Paul Coulombe wants to make the east side of the harbor in Boothbay Harbor more attractive to boaters, tourists and residents. At the Boothbay Harbor Selectmen’s meeting Tuesday night, he and his team announced initial development plans for the “six to eight properties” he has purchased along the waterfront from the footbridge to Cap’N Fish’s Motel. He said he is looking forward to working with the selectmen and planning board during the coming months on his plan to perhaps build unit housing, piers and docks and businesses.

The land he wishes to redevelop is in a maritime district and the structures there now are non-conforming – meaning they are illegal and no changes can be made except to the interior of the buildings. Coulombe would need approval from the town to change the ordinance to allow for his plans to redevelop the area.

Comments from the audience at the meeting were mostly positive but one speaker was concerned about him building another high-priced restaurant and a former selectman expressed her concern about changing the height restriction in the area.

Many more meetings will be held and planning done over the coming months and we will do our best to keep the public informed of Coulombe’s plans and officials’ decisions.