Machiasport Wins Legal Battle Over Beach Road, Secures Maintenance Rights
Machiasport, a town in Maine, has emerged victorious in a long-standing legal dispute concerning the maintenance of Beach Road, a coastal route connecting the town's peninsula to its center. The conflict began when two landowners, Carmine DeFalco and Paula Aschettino, sued the town in 2024, alleging trespass and unlawful deprivation of property due to the town's maintenance activities. Despite the plaintiffs' efforts to report the town to various federal and state agencies, no environmental law violations were found. The court ruled that Machiasport complied with a 1997 judgment outlining its responsibilities for the road. The town's legal troubles are not entirely over, as plans to move part of the road inland via eminent domain are on hold due to ongoing challenges from landowners.