Dear Editor:

Doug Carter’s position on the east side zoning issue reminds me of the Maine weather – it changes constantly. Previously, Mr. Carter publicly supported east side mixed use zoning restoration and spoke up for Mr. Coulombe’s (the “developer’s”) good character and intentions.

Recently, Mr. Carter announced that he has negotiated a private sale of his “Sea Pier” to a different buyer who intends to make it a local non-profit restricted to marine use.

Now, Mr. Carter in his latest letter to this paper, impugns the integrity of both the developer and the town Planning Board who Mr. Carter claims is in the developer’s pocket. Why? Because Mr. Carter says the Planning Board’s proposal – which strengthens marine use restrictions in the same area of the east side as the Sea Pier – serves the developer’s self-interest at our expense.

If it’s difficult to understand Mr. Carter’s latest line of thinking, you’re not alone. The developer has stated that he supports marine use restrictions on these particular properties – but such a restriction hardly benefits the developer. The Planning Board’s action does support marine use priorities in service to the Comprehensive Plan, resolving an issue that is “dividing the town.” Just as Mr. Carter’s own private sale restrictions do the same thing.

Yet, Mr. Carter’s letter invokes claims of corruption and inappropriate marine use “spot zoning” in service to the developer. Say what?

Given the above, the Planning Board can only be described as advancing progress. Progress threatens only one constituency: those who would stop a town vote restoring mixed use zoning to east side hotels and restaurants that are rotting into our harbor – so weakened in value that they’re ripe for cheap acquisition or conversion to non-tax producing parks. So much for private property, tax revenue, commerce and jobs.

All of this drama has played out in public meetings and letters in this paper for almost a year. Cries of “we’re moving too fast” would be comical if this town didn’t have other important issues to solve – many of which threaten our finances and our very existence as a community.

Let’s vote on it.

Tom Myette

Boothbay Harbor taxpayer