Dear Editor:

My background: 41 years as a Chevrolet design engineer, 26 years as a waterfront home owner on the Sheepscot River and three years as chairman of the Edgecomb Planning Board. While on the planning board my #1 rule was to follow the Maine Shoreland Law.

One of the major requirements is the 75-foot setback from any protected water., which includes lakes, ponds, rivers, wetlands or ocean. This setback consists of dirt, vegetarian, grasses, shrubs and trees. This prevents fluids to flow directly into the water and prevents pollution.

The wetlands at the corner of the Meadow Mall parking lot have 0-foot setback from routes 27 and 96, two driveways and the parking lot. But because the lot was there before the law came out in 1971, the parking lot is grandfathered. You can modify the lot as long as you do not increase the size by more than 30% and that must be away from the water. That exception does not apply here.

Since the charging station is part of the parking lot which is grandfathered, the 75-foot setback is meaningless. In addition it will result in less air pollution as EVs do not add carbon monoxide to the air. Since modern electric vehicles came out after the law was passed, it did not recognize charging stations at that time.

This EV charging station will have a positive effect on Boothbay Harbor by being located for both citizens and tourists alike. Local businesses, like the Dollar Store, Nathan's, the pizza restaurant and the Harbor Theater would all benefit as their customers could charge their vehicle at a fast charging station while doing errands, at the doctor or seeing a movie. Local apartment residents without outside power, could charge while running errands.

Cars and trucks with internal combustion engines are still one of the biggest sources of air pollution and this would be a very small step in lowering global warming.

I would hope the Appeals Board will see the bigger picture and reject the Planning Board’s 75-foot requirement and approve the CEO's original approval.

Bob Crink

Boothbay Harbor