Dear Editor:

The town’s Board of Appeals did not rescind the permit for the East Side Park over a technicality. At issue was the best known shoreland zoning standard: that you can’t build anything within 75 feet of the shoreline. This is the same environmental standard applied to all projects in the shoreland, from the rebuilding of cottages, to the location of septic systems, to structures within a park. The Board agreed that the park was indeed proposing a structure - its parking lot - too close to the shoreline. We have questioned why the park has proposed structures within the floodplain and within that shoreline setback, when there are alternatives that would be much better for the environment. For example, anyone who uses and loves Barrett’s Park knows the benefit of locating parking across the road to preserve green space near the shore. Yet the East Side park chose to site its new parking lot close to the shore, risking salt and oils running into the bay, rather than using the existing parking lot across Atlantic Avenue.

The Board’s recent decision goes to the heart of what has always concerned many about this project. There is no reason why a waterfront park should not be able to comply with the same environmental standards applicable to everyone else. Compliance on this issue will mean more undeveloped green space close to the Harbor, which should be the goal of a waterfront park! For environmental reasons, a waterfront park shouldn't allow stormwater from parking lots and grey (brown?) water from a splash pad to be discharged to the harbor. It shouldn’t locate bathroom and other facilities under the floodplain. And it shouldn’t propose new development too close to the shore. State and local officials have made it clear that these issues need to be addressed. These are simple environmental concerns for which there are undoubtedly simple solutions. It is now the park board’s job to find those solutions. All we have ever asked for is a safe and green park.

We thank the Board of Appeals for their time and attention to these important issues. To read the appeal documents and decision, please go to www.bbhwaterfrontinfo.com.

Joe and Jill Doyle

Boothbay Harbor