Dear Editor:

“The Disneyification of Boothbay Harbor” is an appropriate title to last week’s letter to the editor as the content was grounded in fiction and riddled with pixie dust. The fact of the matter is that every aspect of the proposed east side rezoning reflects the contents of the 2015 Comprehensive Plan. Bob Faunce, Lincoln County Planner, was a member of the Planning Board work group and an active participant in the process.

The fact is, one retiree's “quaint character” is a young person's version of “rundown” or “dilapidated.” There is clearly a segment of our population (note I did not say “residents”) who are retired, live here part-time and care deeply about blocking change. They aren’t from here, they didn't raise kids in this community, and they don't particularly care about what happens between the months of October and May. Their emotional rhetoric has no regard for what is staring our community in the face - the loss of its youth, vibrancy and, ultimately, future due to a shrinking, aging, population as clearly depicted in our rapidly declining school enrollments. While their kids may visit and hope to inherit the summer home, our kids aspire to return home and prosper. They have no “generational skin in the game” and little motivation to support any kind of change.

The east side rezoning process might feel “rushed” to the population who arrives for the summer season and is just getting into the swing. For year-round residents who have been slogging to these meetings since December, this process has been purposeful, plan-full, open, transparent, inclusive, and reflects hours and hours of work by smart, professional, dedicated people. These zoning changes are fully aligned with the Comprehensive Plan and implementing the east Ssde rezoning paves the way for a $50 million investment in the district - a huge step forward in revitalizing the area and a substantial injection to the local economy. Tourism is our lifeblood; modern amenities create a longer season; a longer season attracts more people that will consider year-round residency; young, year-round residents will save our schools and help revitalize our community.

Patty Minerich

Boothbay Harbor