letter to the editor

Drop the proposal

Mon, 09/17/2018 - 5:30pm

Dear Editor:

At the Boothbay Harbor Planning Board meeting this week (9/12), the board presented a possible solution to the east side zoning project. Their proposal would maintain the working waterfront, minimize any changes to the Comprehensive Plan and provide development opportunities for the east side. The proposal would separate four properties (the Fish Pier, Sear Pier, Lobster Wharf and the Fishermen’s Memorial) from the remainder of the existing maritime zone making the four properties a maritime-only zone. The rest of the east side would become a mixed use zone (which would include maritime, residential and commercial uses). Initially, this seemed like a viable solution. Unfortunately, a problem arises with this proposal, as Douglas Carter pointed out at the meeting. If any of the four properties in the new working waterfront zone were to be sold, they would need to remain working waterfront. This would devalue those properties, due to this usage limitation. If the lobster fishery were to become non-viable (a real possibility, given what has already happened to other fisheries), then those properties would be nearly worthless. This proposal actually hurts our working waterfront, rather than protecting it.

There is a solution, however. At the meeting, Mr. Carter also announced that he has sold the Sea Pier and that the sale includes a clause in the deed that would only allow that property to be used as working waterfront. This protects our working waterfront without the proposed new zone. The Fish Pier is owned by the town. The Sea Pier is guaranteed to remain working waterfront. The Lobster Wharf is mostly over the water and really can’t be used for anything else.

As a result, it’s clear that the Planning Board should drop the new proposal. There is no good reason not to move forward with a single east side zone that includes both commercial, residential and maritime uses. This does mean making some changes to the Comprehensive Plan (a living document). The working waterfront is now fully protected, and we can enable upgrades to the properties on the east side that need them.

Mike McBride

Boothbay Harbor