The Town Council Monday approved a list of increases and new fees associated with the use of Fort Williams Park.

Picnic area reservations for Cape Elizabeth residents will remain the same, but fees for non-residents and business increased as much as 100 percent beginning Jan. 1.

"Our research indicates that these fees are in line with what a group would pay at other local parks, e.g. Two Lights, Crescent Beach and Popham Beach," said Fort Williams Advisory Commission Chairman Al Barthelman in a memo to the Town Council.

For non-residents and business, Picnic Shelter fees will increase from $150 to $300 for a whole day, and from $100 to $200 for a half day. For non-profit organizations, the fees will be $200 for a whole day and $150 for a half day.

The fee for Bandstand rental for non-residents and businesses will increase from $50 to $100 for a half-day, and fees for rental of the Stone Gazebo will remain at $50 for a half-day.

In 2003, Barthelman said, there were 122 reservations for of the Picnic Shelter, 10 of the Bandstand and none of the Gazebo. Eighty-one percent of the Picnic Shelter reservations were from non-residents.

While rental fees for residents will not increase, refundable security deposits for all rentals will go up from $25 to $50.

New to the fee schedule approved by the council are Area Fees and Location Fees. Area Fees address those activities that require exclusive or near-exclusive use of one of the park's major areas. Location Fees standardize what the Town will charge for commercial film and photography, although the town manager may negotiate any request.

Lastly, fees for vehicle-intensive events such as car shows will increase from $4 to $8 per vehicle. Fees for people-intensive events such as the Portland Symphony Independence Pops concert will remain at $1 per person. The Fort Williams Advisory Commission recommends whether an event is vehicle- or people-intensive.

The revised fee schedule and statement of group uses are available on this Web site.