What would you want Boothbay to look like in 15 years and, more importantly, how would we get there? Those questions have been the central focus in designing a new comprehensive plan for the town of Boothbay.

When Jim Chaousis was hired as the Boothbay Town Manager 2010, the first thing he said he did was sit down and read the town zoning ordinances. There was terminology in the ordinances that raised some questions, so he referred back to the comprehensive plan.

“We found out that the comp plan didn't resonate with the current day opinions of the public. Something needed to happen,” Chaousis said.

Boothbay's comprehensive plan had not been updated since 1989, which signaled it was time for an overhaul, Chaousis said.

Maine law provides that the town's zoning ordinances must be consistent with a comprehensive plan. A comprehensive plan works similar to a constitution. It's a grassroots document voted on and adopted by the people. It serves as a platform to resolve conflicts and to give the town direction in accordance with the zoning ordinances. The plan is also supposed to reflect the best interests of its citizens and provide a vision for what the community should look like in the future.

Although the 1989 comprehensive plan served Boothbay well, Chaousis said, there was a strong push for conservation and preservation in the late '80s.

“Now we're facing a new economy and we've learned a little bit more about what it takes to make it through this tough economy, and that a little bit of diversity in the tax base, and a little bit of economic development spread out in the community is good for us,” Chaousis said. “So how do we work that back in? That's what the comprehensive planning committee will work out.”

Since November, the comprehensive planning committee has met with Mark Eyerman from Planning Decisions, a private consulting group based out of Portland. Planning Decisions has worked in both the public and private sector and will provide oversight and valuable data to the committee as the project progresses.

The town is in a contract with Planning Decisions for roughly $30,000 for about 18 months worth of work, and the goal is to have the comprehensive plan finished and voted on as early as town meeting in 2014.  

The members of the Boothbay comprehensive planning committee have a diverse set of skills and interests, Chaousis said. Among the 12 member board there is a town selectman, Chuck Cunningham, a town planner, Nell Tharpe, and David Dudley, who participated in the 1989 comprehensive plan. Chris Higgins, the superintendent of the Boothbay Harbor Sewer District, and Jon Ziegra manager of the Boothbay Water District, also serve on the board with other Boothbay residents with specialized interests.  

The committee breaks down into subgroups, representing different branches of Boothbay such as business, education, housing, natural resources, municipal services, economic development and transportation.  

At its April 2 meeting, the committee broke up into small groups to develop a list of key aspects that they envisioned for Boothbay in the future: They proposed the following ideas:

-Maintain the genuine New England coastal character.

-Contain a broad balance of demographics, ages and economic diversity.

-Easy to understand regulations that provide a balanced approach, are less restrictive, more proactive and are consistent with the comprehensive plan.

-Encourage public transportation throughout the region.

-A vibrant school system with the ability for children to stay in this community and get a job, and to be able to make an affordable living.

-To foster community involvement at all levels.

-To retain manufacturing jobs and continue to develop and improve infrastructure.

The public also has the opportunity to be involved. Although it's still the early stages of drafting the plan, the committee intends to enlist the support of as many local and summer residents as possible.

“We would take the entire town if they wanted to write portions of this,” Chaousis said. “We'll probably have several forums that will involve the public to discuss the comprehensive plan and invite them into subgroups.”  

Boothbay's comprehensive plan is being organized at the same time as towns of Boothbay Harbor and Damariscotta. Members of Boothbay Harbor's plan have since sat in on Boothbay's meetings.

The comprehensive plan meetings are open to the public and meet at the town hall every first and third Monday at 6 p.m.