Commentary

Beautifying the gateway to the peninsula

Fri, 05/20/2016 - 8:45am

The improvements on Route 27 include adding a roundabout but also have many more benefits. The aesthetics of the entrance to the Boothbay region will be greatly enhanced. We have an opportunity to create a true "gateway" to welcome tourist and guests to our lovely community. The roundabout can increase traffic flow up to 1/3 more traffic ... that is a fact. It also slows down traffic, which makes it safer (supported by data from Maine DOT and consultant). Yes, I did pay for the consultant but at the recommendation of the DOT. We do have traffic congestion when we have events on the Common but also every day in the summer. There are traffic lines stacking up on Corey Lane at stop signs coming from western areas of the peninsula (Southport, Barters Island, Sawyer's Island, etc.). There were also traffic jams with miles of traffic created by Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in November and December. People then dart out onto Route 27 after waiting a long time in traffic, making it very dangerous for traffic on Route 27. There will be continued growth with Botanical Gardens' ambitious plans, as well as the Boothbay Harbor Country Club with its future plans.

Maine DOT is highly recommending that Boothbay address these traffic issues. They have sighted problems with this specific intersection (Corey Lane and Route 27) since the early 1990s.

Other benefits are a new bicycle path and a new sidewalk from the YMCA to Clifford Park to make it safer for school children, pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists. Crosswalks will be clearly marked and will be much safer than having pedestrians cross wherever they choose on Route 27.We would also create island refuges so that pedestrians only have to cross one lane of traffic at a time, creating less interruption of traffic and smoother traffic flow. I am also willing to create public parking (minimum of 50 parking spots) on the east side of the Common at my expense so that fewer pedestrians do not have to cross Route 27, again enhancing traffic flow and making it safer for everyone. I would also create public bathrooms adjacent for everyone's benefit. We have given this plan many hours of thought and planning.

Now for the biggest bonus. I have designed plans to create a Boothbay Village with a general store, restaurants, retailers, cafe, dry cleaning, day spa, dog grooming, and other possibilities. The roundabout is absolutely critical to have the traffic flow smoothly in and out of the new village. Not having the roundabout would make it impossible for traffic to get in and out of the village. I would construct the village in traditional New England architecture and lease or sell the businesses to locals that would like to have the opportunity to run and manage their own business.

There are so many logical and convincing reasons to vote for the Route 27 improvements. It will be entirely paid for by the DOT, myself and TIF (Tax Increment Financing). There would be no impact of taxes for Boothbay residents. It will not cost the taxpayers a dime. It's free! I would say it is a "no brainer." The TIF is financed by new real estate development within the TIF zone, which has been entirely financed by myself up to this point. The TIF has enough money to pay for the improvements already and then some.

I have also agreed to buy the "Gulf gas station" on the corner of Route 27 and Club House Road. I will close the gas tanks eventually and make that area safer for traffic and eliminate the dangers within that corner. I will soften the curve in the road and take the blind spot out so that motorists have a better view of oncoming traffic. I will never recover that investment in my lifetime, but thought it was a part of the traffic problem in the area and needed to be addressed.

There are no logical reasons to vote "no" on the improvements. There are naysayers and people that have fears of the unknown and people that want "no change" no matter what. But those are not logical reasons. We need to provide economic opportunities for all Boothbay residents. We need to improve the roads, sidewalks, parking and, more importantly, safety for all the residents and tourists. We need to attract tourists for economic development and job opportunities.

Why let a New Yorker like Fred Kaplan and his wife from "away" dictate that Boothbay do nothing and bypass this very important opportunity to improve our community? He wants to influence residents with scare tactics that are not based on logic or information. He is detrimental to the success and growth for the Boothbay region. He is not hiring anyone ... he is paying very small taxes and not contributing to the overall well being of the region.

I am doing this for the Boothbay region because I have genuinely loved the area since childhood and know it could be so much better for everyone. I have contributed significantly to the Memorial Library, Opera House, St. Andrews, Cuckolds Lighthouse, Bigelow Laboratory, Boothbay Region Land Trust, Boothbay Region High School scholarships, Botanical Gardens, etc. Boothbay has so much potential and I am willing to put my money where my mouth is to benefit everyone. I do not do these things to benefit myself.

I get rewards from seeing the region doing better and people smiling on the peninsula. I want to help local achieve full and rewarding employment opportunities. I want to see the area and its people truly prosper in the future. Voting "yes" will make it all possible.