ROCKPORT, Maine — The Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce is mum on its plans for land at a busy intersection here that it acquired two weeks ago.
“We received a donation of the property,” Chamber Executive Director Staci Coomer said in an email statement on Sunday. “We will be preparing a press release and photo to share with the community and would be happy to share information with you.”
On Monday, Chamber Board President Mike Hall said a committee has been appointed to review possible uses for the space and that the chamber has no plans for the donation at this time.
The transfer of property occurred Dec. 23 involving two parcels at the northwest corner of the intersection of Routes 1 and 90.
The properties were acquired from Not to Worry LLC and Green House LLC. Both companies are owned by Bettina Doulton, who owns Cellardoor Winery in Lincolnville. Cellardoor has its vineyard and winery on the Youngtown Road in Lincolnville. The company also has a tasting room and gift shop across the street in Rockport from where the donated land is located.
Doulton said Sunday she had no comment on the transaction, referring questions to the chamber.
The two lots donated to the chamber total more than 5 acres and are assessed by the town for more than $200,000 combined.
No plans for developing the land have been submitted to the town. Town Manager Richard Bates said Monday the Chamber recently had inquired on what it would take to extended sewer to the property.
Cellardoor is a member of the Penobscot Bay Chamber, which according to its website is the fourth-largest chamber in Maine and represents businesses in Knox, Waldo and northern Lincoln counties.
The chamber has offices located at 1 Park Drive in Rockland and at the public landing in Camden. The organization is the result of a 2011 merger of the Rockland-Thomaston Area Chamber and the Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber, which had a combined membership of about 1,000.