Last week, Paul Coulombe, owner of Boothbay Harbor Oceanside Golf Resort and Boothbay Harbor Country Club, announced he was halting his development plans for the Cap’n Fish’s and Lobster Dock properties. The announcement came after the Nov. 15 planning board meeting which continued a discussion on zoning ordinance changes that began with the select board in mid-October.

The Monday, Nov. 27 select board meeting provided a forum for both the board and audience to discuss Coulombe’s announcement which he said stemmed from frustration with the boards and their processes for changing zoning ordinances.

Selectman Mike Tomko said the ultimate goal is collaborative work between the select and planning boards, Joint Economic Development Committee, and members of the public. This is an effort to make the necessary changes for a better local and regional economy with “up-to-date, effective, and attractive zoning and land use ordinances that promote economic development and maintain a sense of place and history towards our heritage,” he said.

Board vice chair Denise Griffin reminded the audience Coulombe’s proposal was purely a concept, not brought forth to the planning board for review or approval, and that concepts, by design, are easily changed. At the same time, Griffin said, changes to zoning ordinances need to be treated delicately for the sake of the future of the harbor.

“I was quite shocked … that Mr. Coulombe was pulling out of the project because, as far as I am concerned, the selectmen never said anything negative against (the concept). We’re firmly for it,” added Griffin.

Board members Russ Hoffman and Tricia Warren concurred with Tomko and Griffin. Hoffman added, some collaborative work with Coulombe and his team might be beneficial, specifically a small team to discuss the changes both parties might like to see. Warren added that “changes are coming,” but it does not mean the boards should help make changes happen immediately.

Planning board chair Tom Churchill explained, he and his peers provide advice and recommendations to the select board. Last summer, the planning board identified a possible need to change or review, the zoning in the east side of the harbor, he said.

“(The ordinance) was drafted in 1985 or thereabouts. Given what’s happened, it probably should be reviewed,” said Churchill. “The planning board’s role will be to meet with citizens at workshops, and with Mr. Coulombe if he chooses to participate … That’s a process that takes some time. Certainly, we want to see some things happen on that side and there are provisions in the current ordinance that prohibit that and those probably should be changed.”

John O’Connell was the only non-board member from the audience to speak on the issue and how the boards are reacting.

Said O’Connell, “I’m glad to hear you say that a judicious process is necessary. We’ve had these ordinances sitting, lying dormant for 20-plus years and they need to be upgraded, but not in a hurry … We owe it to the town, the future, the voters to get it right and somebody else’s timeline really shouldn’t factor into it.”

Select board chair Wendy Wolf expressed the need for fairness in the rezoning, and the need to ensure a somewhat level economic playing field. Tomko agreed, stating, “I'm personally not willing to race forward in the process just to make changes, but want our work to be thoughtful, respectful, and well-planned. I also do not want to drag this process out any longer than it needs to be in order to be fair and effective for everyone.”

Wolf, also chair of the JEDC, said Coulombe’s  announcement does not impact the region’s recent steps with Camoin Assiciates on an economic master plan.

“The master plan work is continuing on schedule,” said Wolf. “We are working with Camoin Associates over the region and the individual towns.”

Wolf explained, the JEDC views individuals’ business plans as complementary processes to creating an overarching plan in revitalizing the region’s economy, and that no single investment proposal affects the process of the master plan.

Jim Damicis, senior vice president of Camoin Associates, said in a phone interview, Coulombe’s maneuver does indirectly affect the master plan in the long run.

“Will he be willing to come back to the table and, if so, will there be a process of moving forward? It’s not over until it’s over. How developers see the public process in the market does impact their willingness to invest (and) how future developers see how this process went will impact their willingness to invest, when to invest and how much to invest.”

According to Damicis, the exact impact on Boothbay Harbor will be hard to tell since the process is not over.

“The more they have to go through the process and the more that gets delayed without some sort of clear pathway to get anything on the ground, that becomes a problem. However, on the town’s side, it’s reasonable to vet these things. These are not small developments.”

Damicis said to move toward change in a timely manner, Boothbay Harbor needs an economic plan and full-time staff to work through proposals.

“That’s even outside of the general public process that you want to have, too,” Damicis explained. “So, on the one hand, the developer needs speed and on the other hand, you can see the town needs process and a way to vet this.

“I think it’s still all workable. It’s a big number, the kind that was being talked about, so, at the end of the day, if it doesn’t work out that will make a difference … It’s important for both parties to come together and to work through it.”

The next Boothbay Harbor select board meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Dec. 11.  Entrepreneur Paul Coulombe is expected to be in attendance regarding the proposed east side revitalization.