Less asphalt, more green
Too much asphalt is a big mistake
KEY ISSUES
KEY ISSUE #1: A park, not a commercial development
East Side Waterfront Park is not subject to any deed restrictions protecting it for conservation/park use. The town could avoid scrutiny of this “park” on the promise of its public benefits, only to have the developer turn around and sell it for commercial use. Reference: BBHWP deed.
This is not the green, environmentally friendly park we were promised. BBHWP has proposed a general store, apartments, marina, eating establishment, and loads of pavement.
The Devloper Advertised a Green Park
Here is What the Developer File For:
KEY ISSUE #2: Eliminate environmental risk
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “When rainwater washes over impervious surfaces such as rooftops, parking lots, and roads, it collects and carries pollutants that ultimately flow into waterways.”
The “park” as proposed will vastly exceed the approx. 37% impervious surface (pavement, buildings, and other improvements) permitted under shoreland zoning standards
The CDC has warned about the risk of potential contamination and health problems from splash pads. BBHWP still doesn’t have a viable plan for disposal of the wastewater from its splash pad and its recently submitted plans still don’t show it connecting the splash pad to the sewer, as DHHS has required.
BBHWP has proposed a new parking lot in the shoreland zone, when it has ample room to move the pavement (and all its environmental harms) away from the Harbor.
KEY ISSUE #3: The developer has not shown the capacity to see this project through
The developer has shown a disregard for complying with local laws, repeatedly building in violation of its permits, or without permits at all.
The developer has continually failed, over six years, to present a compliant plan for this park. It has waited for almost three years to come back to the planning board after the court directed it to do so.
DEP says, “This project needs a closer look to ensure compliance to the local ordinances and the Guidelines.”
KEY ISSUE - Surfaces Far Exceed Shoreland Standards
SIMPLE: 80% green space is the answer
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “When rainwater washes over impervious surfaces such as rooftops, parking lots, and roads, it collects and carries pollutants that ultimately flow into waterways.”
By law, this development should have no more than approx. 37% of the property covered by impervious surfaces. BBHWP has previously proposed a much higher percentage that far exceeds shoreland standards. In January, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) wrote a letter to the town’s Board of Appeals and pointed out that shoreland zoning standards “must be followed.” It was BBHWP’s official position at that time that the Board should simply ignore the concerns outlined in the DEP letter and urged that the town declare its development legal.
Asking Boothbay Harbor’s regulatory officials to look the other way on environmental standards was wrong. BBHWP has withdrawn its application from Planning Board review and has yet to re-file. When it does, all it needs to do is satisfy the DEP and the town that its proposal meets all shoreland zoning standards.
Here’s a simple visual example of one element of the problem — this image shows the originally-permitted splashpad vs. the splashpad that was built unpermitted at that time.
