Dear Editor:

The Common — quaintness, simplicity and low key atmosphere, the ambiance that took years to acquire — which is more of a feeling that the people of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor and, yes, even the tourists have created and cannot be replaced with massive stone walls and in-your-face gatehouse.

Look around folks: the gas station will be gone and where it will wind up is anyone’s guess; the Kenniston Hill Inn is already gone from its rightful place in Boothbay’s history; the ambulance building will be moved to the new location on Route 27 (disaster, even with the roundabout); Bet’s Fish Fry seems safe for now, but don’t count on it; the Y’s future is questionable (once the swimming pools and tennis courts go in); and there will be more congestion once the proposed stores go in that the roundabout won’t fix. And all this for one man!

How much more will our selectmen sell out to Coulombe?

Picture a massive roundabout with a number of stores; that will be a disaster waiting to happen, perhaps more so because of the roundabout.

Massachusetts has had two major accidents with trucks on a roundabout and almost in the same place.

Having lived in Sussex County, New Jersey and to commute on Route 23, we had to deal with all the roundabouts. Every so many miles, you came upon a roundabout, and if there were any stores, trying to go completely around was a nightmare. There were accidents on a regular basis.

If Southport could say no to Coulombe, why can’t Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor do the same? Thank you people of Southport.

When will we ever learn that bigger is not always the answer and that once something as intangible as the simplicity and quaintness of the Common is gone, nothing can get it back.

By the way, did anyone read the article in the New York Times about this issue?

Doris Dombrowski

East Boothbay