On Election Day, Boothbay residents have a chance to shape the town’s future. On the local referendum ballot, voters will decide whether to update the town’s comprehensive plan for the first time since 1989.

The Comprehensive Planning Committee submitted the updated version in August. The committee spent three years creating the 203-page document. Committee co-chairman and Selectman Chuck Cunningham described the new comprehensive plan as a guide for town officials in making decisions during the next 10-20 years.

“Think of it as a road map, and (think of) the town’s ordinances as the speed limits,” Cunningham said.

The comprehensive plan proposes goals and objectives for what the town should look like in the next generation. The proposed comprehensive plan is divided into three parts. Section A provides background information about the town. It also includes recent studies, surveys, U.S. Census data, and lists the town’s historical sites and infrastructure. Comprehensive Planning Committee consultant Mark Eyerman describes Section B as “the guts of the document.”

Section B includes the committee’s vision for Boothbay in the future. The section includes the goals and objectives for the community. Section B also includes the land use plan.

Section C is the strategy for implementation. It includes how the town should create relationships in the region and with neighboring peninsula towns.

Overall, the comprehensive plan provides guidance without prescribing any clear mandates. But the document includes specific language concerning land use regulations. 

“This isn’t a document with a lot of cans and can’ts,” Cunningham said. “The most direct language is about land use. And that’s because state law requires a municipality’s ordinance be compatible with the comprehensive plan.”

During the Oct. 14 public hearing, the committee explained that the new comprehensive plan is more of an update than a radical change. Once the plan receives voter approval, the town has two years to revamp land use ordinances to comply with the updated plan.

Eyerman explained that the plan’s biggest impact would happen in three locations. The first is the village area, where public sewer is now available. The second is East Boothbay, where a zone is changing from residential to village. And the scenic gateway along Routes 27 and 96 is the third.

A public sewer system is now available in the village area from Route 27 to Country Club Road. This provides the town with more options for residential development.

The zone change in East Boothbay provides more flexibility for future development, according to Eyerman. It allows for shipyard expansion and adding more marine-based businesses.

The third significant change regards protecting the towns scenic corridors along Routes 27 and 96.

“This look is an important characteristic of the town. Let’s face it. It’s lovely, and something the committee wants to preserve,” Eyerman said.

But one resident believes one proposal not deemed a significant change would have a negative impact on his home life. River Road resident Ron Ross bought his home five years ago. At the time, the neighborhood’s major commercial interest was a shipyard. Under the proposed comprehensive plan, his neighborhood zoning would change from residential to mixed use. He believes the mixed use designation would result in more commercial activity.

“There is a lot of great things in this document, but one thing compels me to vote against it,” Ross said. “This opens up the neighborhood to auto repair shops and storage facilities. If I would’ve known about this I might not have bought my home.”

Cunningham explained that all proposed developments would require planning board approval. He also explained that the current residential ordinance had close to three dozen allowed uses ranging from small engine repair to veterinary clinics.

Committee member Chuck Fuller urged voters who objected to one section of the plan to judge the entire document.

“Look at the whole picture. This has a lot of good elements,” Fuller said. “There is no way we were going to make everybody happy, so please look at the big picture.”

Residents will vote on Tuesday, Nov. 3 on the local referendum question which reads: “Shall a plan entitled The Boothbay Comprehensive Plan dated Aug. 3, 2015 be enacted.” The election will be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the municipal building.

The comprehensive plan can be viewed on the town website or at the town office.