Dear Editor:

At the Aug. 27 selectmen’s public hearing, I listened and I heard concerns about divisiveness in the community. Here’s a proposal that I hope brings the community together. I trust it merits the planning board’s immediate consideration.

Since many citizens oppose additional multi-family (condos) for the east side, I concede this issue and recommend the elimination of condos from the rezoning proposal.

Maintaining working waterfront is critically important on the east side. Commercial fishing should not just survive, it should prosper. There are two lobster/fish buying operations on the east side within the maritime/water dependent zoning district, the Sea Pier and Boothbay Lobster Wharf. The Sea Pier has been for sale. The sale of the Sea Pier would include a condition that it would remain as maritime working waterfront. However, the planning board could reinforce this restricted use in the new zoning ordinance.

I remain strongly in favor of reinstating the developer’s fee of 3-5 percent. This provides significant money for future community needs such as green space, public water access, dock space, repairs to the footbridge or other infrastructure projects.

I urge the planning board to address this new proposal at their next meeting. I also suggest that we involve Bob Faunce, Lincoln County Planner, in the process to ensure that the proposed east side rezoning ordinance is fully aligned with the 2015 Comprehensive Plan, as he was the primary author of this plan.

With this new proposal, the rezoning ordinance can be one warrant which will make voting a simpler and easier to understand process.

I believe this new proposal provides middle and common ground that all constituents can agree to and will help the community prosper.

I look forward to the planning board working quickly to get these proposals finalized and sent to the select board for public hearing and warrant.

Paul Coulombe