SMYRNA – The Town of Smyrna adopted subdivision regulations on Oct. 9 after two years of work by members of the town’s planning board. 

“You can thank Christmas & Associates for that,” Board Chairman Peter Maynard said Monday.

The Camden-based real estate development company set its sights on Smyrna Lake in 2005, and proceeded to purchase more than 600 acres there and elsewhere in the town for the purposes of subdividing. Properties already sold, for example, have brought the developers between $89,000 to $96,000 for a 5-acre lot with no improvements.

Maynard said members of the town’s planning board became concerned about whether the developer had created sufficient right-of-way access for emergency and maintenance vehicles, and whether citizens would have to foot the bill for new roads in the future.

“It costs between $50,000 and $100,000 for a mile of new road. That’s a pretty hefty bill to put on the shoulders of the town should it arise,” he said.