Dear Editor:

Boothbay’s new comprehensive plan should be of concern to the town’s single family homeowners. Rather than protecting established clusters of single family homes within Boothbay, it encourages many additional forms of development within these established residential areas.

In the interest of encouraging business development and more affordable housing, the plan proposes zoning which would allow almost any lot in town to be used commercially or for multifamily housing. While business development and affordable housing are important goals, these objectives need not place well established, quiet residential areas at risk. Over time, the zoning envisioned in the plan will clearly impact all the well-established single family residential areas of Boothbay, from Barters Island to Ocean Point.

If you are concerned about waking up some morning and finding you have a new business as your next door neighbor, I encourage you to read Chapter 6 “Land Use Goals and Objectives,” pp. 62-68 of the new comprehensive plan. You can then decide whether you want to vote for or against the Plan on Election Day, Nov. 2, 2015.

The complete plan is available online at http://www.townofboothbay.org.

Robert O’Connor

East Boothbay