Dear Editor:

I spoke for the first time before the Boothbay Harbor Planning Board last Wednesday in support of the Eastside Waterfront Park. My background includes three years as chairman of the Edgecomb Planning Board and 22 years in the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

I attended the first meeting six years ago of the proposed park primarily as it would add new transient dockage on the east side of the harbor for my boat. Two years ago I moved to Boothbay Harbor -- no boats anymore, but still no park!

The new park would primarily benefit both local residents and their families along with local tourists. The abutter bought their lot after the park had been purchased. The abutter has many objections to the park and hired a lawyer to present their cases at the planning board and in court.

At the end of last Wednesday’s 3 hour+ meeting, it was determined that the Code Enforcement Officer, not the Planning Board, has to determine if the original site plan and shoreland zone plans are still valid. Normally the work has to start during the first year and be complete by the third year but the court cases have held everything up.

Hopefully this can be decided at August’s Planning Board meeting. Another month delay!

As I stated at the end of the meeting, the only people coming out ahead in these type of cases are the lawyers.

Bob Crink

Boothbay Harbor