• 222, 230, and 248 Brownstone Avenue purchased by the Town. Remediation funding received from DECD and remediation contractor engaged. Target date for remediation completion June 2022. 

• Brownfield Focus Group created and charged with reviewing zoning and visioning redevelopment. 

• Draft RFP for development partner for 248 Brownstone Avenue completed January 2021. 

• BOS working with Portland Fair Association to relocate annual Fair to Riverfront Park.

• The town was recently awarded a STEAP grant to help fund a water main upgrade on Brownstone Avenue- to be completed in 2021

• We received a DPH grant to help find water in Portland to service all our customers, including those along the riverfront and in the nearby industrial park.

• The brownstone quorum, Inc is installing a labyrinth made with custom pavers this summer 2020 at the Riverfront park on Brownstone Avenue. Landscaping will be completed in the spring of 2021.

• The town has purchased 5 plus acres of waterfront land on the Connecticut River- 222, 230 and 248 Brownstone Avenue- November 2019. The property is a Brownfield (due to petroleum residuals). The Town was granted $200,000 from the State to investigate and prepare a plan for cleanup of the land (Phase 2 and 3 Environmental Assessment). The property is contiguous to the Town owned Riverfront Park and Brownstone Quarries. This is an area that is visited by over 100,000 people per year, and is a major regional tourist attraction. The town receives approximately $350,000+ annually from the Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park (BEDP).

ADDITIONAL DETAILS.......

• During a Public Hearing, and as part of the due diligence of the Title Search for the property 222, 230 and 248 Brownstone Avenue, it was determined that the property includes ownership of an underground oil pipeline. (The phase 2 and 3 reports had previously noted the owner of the pipeline was Buckeye Pipeline.) The pipeline is located on/under another private property (B&B Petroleum), as well as under Brownstone Avenue (Town property), and the former property owner (PortOil,LLC).

• The owner/seller is de-commissioned the pipeline. The oil in the pipeline was removed and the pipeline was flushed with water by the seller in September 2018.

• Ground Penetrating Radar was conducted. A map of the pipeline’s location was prepared and is on file.

• The property owner conducted a nitrogen pressure test in order to test the integrity of the pipeline and determine if any product was released into the ground. Pipeline was found to be intact with no detection of any leaks.

• Two public hearings and a town meeting vote was conducted. The Town Meeting vote was yes to purchase the property (Sept. 2019)

• The Town signed all paperwork -  Nov. 2019.

• The State DEEP and DECD are assisting and advising the Town on this project.

• The Town is using Tighe and Bond as its Environmental Consultant.

• The Brownfields Task Force was established in 2020 and is assisting and advising the Town in its implementation of the clean-up.

• The Remedial Action Plan (RAP) will be submitted to the State DEEP in November 2020.

• The RAP (once approved) will be put out to bid, awarded, and completed on or about November 2021.

• Signage was installed along the bike route in 2019 with the help of DOT along Route 17A and Route 17.

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• There is ongoing work by three Selectmen to find a canoe/kayak launch site on the CT River.

• 222, 230, and 248 Brownstone Avenue purchased by the Town. Remediation funding received from DECD and Remediation Contractor engaged. 

• Land swap completed in Wangunk Meadows to ensure road access to Town owned parcels. 

• We will be looking at possible canoe/kayak launch sites.

• Wright Farms, a privately held entity, has recently acquired several acres of the Wangunk Meadows.The Town acquired several acres along the River near the Town-owned Nolan Field. The Field Family donated the land to the Town in 2019.