An Act To Support Tourism on Public Reserved Lands by Leasing Sites to Commercial Sporting Camps
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §1852, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2005, c. 462, Pt. C, §1 and affected by §2, is further amended to read:
(1) The number of such site leases may not exceed the number of lodging rooms in the commercial sporting camp; and
(2) The location of each leased site and trail easement must be as requested by the owner of the commercial sporting camp unless the director determines the location to be inconsistent with other uses of the public reserved land or with applicable laws or rules.
The annual fee for camp leases under this subsection may not exceed 10% of the fair market value of the land, as determined once during each 5-year lease term by the State Tax Assessor. Notwithstanding this subsection, there must be a minimum annual camp lease fee of $150 and a minimum annual commercial sporting camp observation stand or shelter lease fee of $100.
summary
This bill provides that the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may lease observation stands and shelters and convey trail easements on public lands for private use, in addition to campsites, garages and other structures that currently may be leased. It provides that the director must lease up to one observation stand or shelter and convey up to a mile of trail easement for each lodging room at a commercial sporting camp. It specifies that the site location and trail easement must be as requested by the commercial sporting camp owner unless the director determines the location is inconsistent with other uses of the public reserved land or with applicable laws or rules. It provides for a minimum annual commercial sporting camp observation stand or shelter lease fee of $100.