Dear Editor:

The Boothbay Harbor Board of Appeals will meet on Jan. 31. We continue to question the following:

• Everyone would agree that the former Cap’n Fish’s was overdeveloped. BHWP also intends to overdevelop, installing pavers and concrete that will largely cover the “park.” BHWP is even seeking to pave new areas, which is why DEP has expressed its dissatisfaction with the plan. There are dozens of design options that would meet the town standard of no more than 20% structures and pavement. Why can’t this park have some green space?

• As confirmed by the town’s CEO and attorney, BHWP has committed repeated violations of current permits and failed entirely to get other mandatory permits. The park failed to note on its plans that a good deal of the property - including the pavilion - is in a specially protected floodplain, and hasn’t obtained required floodplain permits! BHWP built the large splashpad in violation of the site plan, and later built a concrete retaining walls that weren’t and cannot be permitted, potentially causing flooding issues. As a result, the town has the park project under a Stop Work Order. (see www.bbhwaterfrontinfo.com for these documents).

• BHWP has proceeded in a piecemeal fashion, without the advice of appropriate professionals, and sometimes without permits. The state has now told BHWP that its splashpad wastewater can’t be discharged on the site or to the harbor as planned. Floodplain regulations, once reviewed, likely require further modification of the project. BHWP has most recently said that it will be filing permit applications for “reimagined main structure,” waterfront pavilion and new float footprint? How can town officials understand whether this project as a whole complies with standards when the town officials have only reviewed snippets, and what they have reviewed keeps changing or not being done per the permit?

As neighbors, we continue to support the concept of an East Side Waterfront Park. It’s unfortunate that we’ve been vilified as the source of BHWP’s woes, but safe and green is a low bar. BHWP needs to satisfy the town and state of its compliance. We urge BHWP to proceed with a little less secrecy and a little more transparency, obtain all the necessary approvals, and go back to the Planning Board with a comprehensive, green, safe and compliant plan for all necessary approvals.

Jill and Joe Doyle

Boothbay Harbor