Florida developer mulls 11 lots on Lopaus Point in Bernard

186 Lopaus Point Road, Bernard

BERNARD, Maine, Sept. 14, 2024 - A Florida developer seeks to subdivide one of the island’s largest remaining unspoiled waterfront properties into 11 lots, much to the chagrin of neighbors worried about the scale of the project.

At the same time, the entire 28-acre parcel remains on the market for $5.9 million, according to its listing broker who acknowledged the price is hefty.

“Seller is pursuing all options in case it does not sell as a bulk piece,” stated Sue Girouard of L&S Realty. “So they are in the preliminary stages of presenting to the town a proposed subdivision plan.”

A “pre-application” filed with the town stated that Lopaus Point ME, LLC wants to subdivide that 28-acre parcel in the northwest corner of the Lopaus Point peninsula, home to generations of families who summered here in their “cottages.”

The company gave its address as 5230 Paylor Ln, Sarasota, Florida, which is the same address for American Land & Lakes.

 “American Land & Lakes is a wholesale land company, offering gorgeous, buildable land to the public. We specialize in buying large tracts of highly desirable, undeveloped land and dividing it into prime residential and recreational homesites that are perfect for your year-round home or a vacation getaway. When they offer one of their spectacular properties for sale, we do so with incredible attention to detail and a total commitment to excellence.”

The signatory to the pre-application was Michael T. Emmons, who gave his address as 5210 Paylor Lane, Sarasota.

The pre-application was accompanied by a site plan, which showed the 11 lots squeezed onto the 28 acres with some as small as 1 acre and the largest at 6.2 acres. All except one has water frontage.

The parcel has six abutters, according to the site plan, two of whom contacted the QSJ to say the proposal is “too dense.”

One abutter stated in an email, “I and other neighbors are concerned about a recently planned subdivision in Tremont by a speculative Florida-based developer.”

Another stated, “Us neighbors are awfully worried about what we’ve learned.”

The Planning Board reviewed the pre-application Aug. 27 (double click video below) and scheduled a site visit for Sept. 24 at 5 p.m. The new owners have hired a project manager, James Boyle of Gorham. He is the Maine House representative from District 109. He did not return a call by publication time for this article.

Bernard is a village in the Town of Tremont whose biggest taxpayers are owners of waterfront properties jutting out into Blue Hill Bay.

The 186 Lopaus Point property was previously owned by the Cook Family Maine Property and was assessed at $4,106,700 with a FY25 tax bill of $37,987.

According to its listing, the property has four seasonal cottages, including a main house.

“This extraordinary oceanfront estate offers over 28 acres of pristine property and an amazing 2700+/- feet of sandy and pebbly shoreline.

“This private haven, situated at the end of a secluded point, presents breathtaking westerly views across open waters … the property is a unique blend of rustic charm and natural beauty, featuring several structures that add to its allure.

“The main cottage boasts unobstructed panoramic views from the main living area, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the surrounding landscape. Three additional guest cottages, each just a stone's throw from the water's edge, offer their own ocean vistas, providing a cozy retreat for family and friends.”

“A boathouse, writer's cabin (Pulitzer Prize Winner, Walter Lippman summered here,) and a carport/shed further enhance the property's potential, with all structures grandfathered in, offering endless possibilities for renovation.”

Town Manager Jess Dunbar said the proposed subdivision would be the largest in recent years, “since I’ve been here” in 2020.