Rangeley to purchase .35-acre property despite environmental concerns – Lewiston Sun Journal

Report on the Acquisition of 50 Pleasant Street, Rangeley, and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

The Town of Rangeley Board of Selectmen has voted to proceed with the acquisition of a 0.35-acre property located at 50 Pleasant Street. This decision, made despite potential environmental contamination, aligns with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning sustainable communities, environmental protection, and transparent governance. The acquisition presents an opportunity for strategic land use planning while necessitating diligent environmental assessment to mitigate risks and protect local ecosystems.

2.0 Project Details and Decision-Making Process

The decision to acquire the property for $99,500 followed a public referendum and a subsequent board vote. This process reflects a commitment to participatory and inclusive decision-making as outlined in SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

• Property: 0.35 acres at 50 Pleasant Street, adjacent to existing municipal properties.
• Public Mandate: Residents approved the acquisition in a 309-186 vote on November 5.
• Board Decision: The Board of Selectmen voted 4-1 to finalize the purchase.
• Next Steps: The board authorized up to $6,000 for a Phase One Environmental Site Assessment.

3.0 Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The acquisition and subsequent management of the property intersect with multiple SDGs, presenting both challenges and opportunities for sustainable development in Rangeley.

3.1 SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

This project directly relates to the goal of making human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

1. Integrated Urban Planning (Target 11.3): Acquiring land adjacent to the Town Office and Fire Rescue parcel allows for integrated and strategic planning for municipal land use, enhancing community infrastructure.
2. Access to Green and Public Spaces (Target 11.7): A proposed alternative use for the property, should construction be unfeasible, is its development into a public green space or parking area. This would increase access to public amenities and contribute to community well-being.

3.2 SDG 15: Life on Land & SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The primary concern with the property is a potential oil spill from 2023, which directly impacts goals related to environmental health.

• Halting Land Degradation (Target 15.3): The decision to conduct an environmental site assessment is a critical first step toward understanding and potentially remediating land contamination, thereby combating land degradation.
• Protecting Terrestrial Ecosystems (Target 15.1): By addressing the oil spill, the town can prevent further harm to the local soil and terrestrial ecosystem.
• Improving Water Quality (Target 6.3): Assessing the extent of the oil spill is crucial for protecting local groundwater and surface water sources from pollution by hazardous materials, a key component of ensuring clean water and sanitation.

3.3 SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The governance process surrounding the acquisition demonstrates principles of effective and accountable institutions.

• Responsive and Inclusive Decision-Making (Target 16.7): The town’s reliance on a public referendum before the board’s final vote ensures that the decision-making process is participatory and representative of the community’s will.
• Accountable Institutions (Target 16.6): Despite public approval, the board conducted further due diligence, considered resident concerns about environmental risks, and held a final vote, demonstrating an accountable and transparent process.

4.0 Conclusion and Forward Actions

The acquisition of 50 Pleasant Street represents a strategic move for the Town of Rangeley that aligns with long-term sustainable development objectives. While environmental risks are present, the planned actions demonstrate a commitment to responsible management and environmental stewardship. The approved forward actions are as follows:

1. Proceed with the closing process for the property.
2. Ensure a clean title search is completed.
3. Execute a Phase One Environmental Site Assessment with an allocated budget of up to $6,000 to quantify and address risks in line with SDG 15 and SDG 6.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  This goal is relevant because the article discusses a local government’s decision regarding land acquisition and use within the town of Rangeley. The potential use of the property as a “green space or parking lot” directly relates to urban planning and public spaces.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The core issue of the article, an “oil spill from a turned over oil tank,” connects to this goal. It highlights the need for environmentally sound management of chemicals and wastes (in this case, heating oil) to prevent soil pollution and minimize adverse environmental impacts.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The oil spill has caused land and soil degradation on the “.35-acre property.” This goal is addressed through the concern for the environmental impact on the terrestrial ecosystem and the implicit need to assess and potentially restore the degraded land.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is demonstrated by the governance process described in the article. The Rangeley Board of Selectmen, a local institution, is making a decision through a transparent and participatory process that includes a town vote, public comment from residents, and a formal vote by the board members.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 11.7: Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces.

  This target is directly referenced by Selectman Samantha White’s suggestion that if the property cannot be built on, “it could be used as a green space or parking lot.” This shows consideration for creating public spaces for the community.

• Target 12.4: Achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to… soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.

  The concern over the “oil spill’s impact on the property” and the decision to expend funds for an “environmental site assessment” are actions aimed at understanding and managing the release of a chemical (oil) into the soil, which aligns with this target.

• Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil… and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.

  The oil spill has resulted in degraded land. The environmental assessment is the first step toward understanding the extent of the degradation, which is a prerequisite for any future restoration efforts on the property.

• Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.

  The article provides a clear example of this target in action. The decision-making process involved a public vote where “residents Nov. 5 voted in favor, 309-186,” a public meeting where a “Resident Chris Farmer voiced opposition,” and a final vote by the elected “Board of Selectmen… 4-1.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 11.7: Area of public space as a proportion of total city area.

  The article specifies the size of the property as “.35-acre.” If this land is converted into a green space, its area serves as a direct, quantifiable indicator of progress toward creating more public spaces.

• Indicator for Target 12.4: Hazardous waste generated per capita and proportion of hazardous waste treated.

  While the article doesn’t provide data on the total amount of oil spilled, the “environmental site assessment” is an action that will generate data on the extent of the contamination. The results of this assessment can serve as a baseline indicator for the amount of hazardous material that needs to be managed or treated.

• Indicator for Target 15.3: Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area.

  The article identifies a specific parcel of land (“.35-acre property”) that is potentially degraded. The environmental assessment will confirm the proportion of this parcel that is contaminated, providing a specific measurement for this indicator at a micro-level.

• Indicator for Target 16.7: Proportions of positions in public institutions and participation in decision-making.

  The article provides explicit data points that act as indicators of a participatory process. These include the results of the public referendum (“309-186”) and the board’s final vote count (“4-1”), which measure the level of public engagement and the outcome of the representative decision-making process.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Summary

Source: sunjournal.com