Dear Editor:

Congratulations are due. According to a reader survey in the July issue of Down East Magazine the Boothbay Region has many Best of Maine winners. Boothbay Region Land Trust is the best land trust. Knickerbocker Group won for best Architect and Builder/Contractor. Best Golf Course went to Boothbay Harbor Country Club in Boothbay. In Boothbay Harbor we have one of the best bookstores, Sherman’s. Best in the State Resort/Hotel award went to Spruce Point Inn. Best Harbor in Maine award went to Boothbay Harbor.

No surprise to me. People love our harbor just the way it is. No need to change the protective ordinance of the East Side Maritime/Water Dependent District. We need to support the 2015 Comprehensive Plan as approved by the residents of Boothbay Harbor to preserve our waterfront.

Residents and visitors alike enjoy looking at our harbor. To enjoy it one needs to see it. No need to increase the building heights to 35 feet.

Maintain our views by keeping the current ordinance at 30 feet. The people who will be most affected by a height increase are the residents who already built and purchased here. They could potentially lose their views.

Boothbay Harbor residents already know that we have Maine’s Best Harbor. We knew before Down East published their results. We can improve and maintain what we have under the current ordinances. Let’s protect our harbor as it is. Let's keep what is important; the way people love it, cherished and always beautiful.

Congratulations to everyone who calls this amazing place home.

Susan Reynolds

Friends of the Harbor

Boothbay Harbor