A BREATH OF FRESH AIR
THIS IS THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF
BOOTHBAY HARBOR WATERFRONT PRESERVATION.
Boothbay Harbor Waterfront Preservation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance the traditional character of Boothbay Harbor and pursue opportunities to protect the working waterfront, while expanding public access to the water for the benefit of residents and visitors alike.
Response to the March 16th Letter to the Editor
The March 16th Boothbay Register included a letter from Joe and Jill Doyle that contains several claims that require correction.
Developers
Boothbay Harbor Waterfront Preservation (BBHWP) is not a developer. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2018. Our mission has remained unchanged since our founding, to promote public access to the water and to protect working waterfront. We published our initial park design in four full-page ads in 2019—before the Doyles purchased their adjoining property. The final payment on the Cap'n Fish property was made on December 1, 2019. Plans have changed only minimally since those early public renderings; however, BBHWP has been required to attend more than 30 town hearings over 6 years.
The Doyles claim to support the Waterfront Park, yet they created a website dedicated to spreading misinformation about our project. Once we learned the full extent of their opposition, we returned their prior donations—with interest.
Delays and Legal Costs
It is inaccurate to blame BBHWP for project delays or the town's legal expenses. Ongoing legal proceedings result directly from Doyle appeals of 2021 Planning Board approvals. One proceeding remains active solely because the Doyles were not properly notified by the Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) of a 2021 Planning Board meeting. The Doyles appealed, were granted a rehearing, and now blame Preservation for the resulting town’s legal costs.
BBHWP has endured a formal six-month, stop-work order and further delays prompted by threats of additional stop work orders. These delays were triggered by letters from the Doyles to the CEO demanding action. The significant delays and attorney fees incurred by the town stem from Doyle actions, not those initiated by BBHWP.
Green Space
The Eastside Waterfront Park will dramatically increase green space on the site. Eighty-seven percent of the former Cap'n Fish property was covered by asphalt and buildings. Our approved plans will reduce that to approximately 33%, leaving two thirds of the property covered with grass and other vegetation. In addition, removal of the motel buildings not only dramatically increased green space but afforded the Doyles an unobstructive view of the harbor and park lawns.
Nonprofit Status
BBHWP is fully compliant as a nonprofit, operating as a free park and providing short-term public dockage. However, like many nonprofits, we generate limited revenue through fees and programming to help sustain operations. Our property is zoned Limited Commercial/Maritime—the same as the Doyles'—and generating revenue does not jeopardize our 501(c)(3) status. Finally, legal counsel has fully apprised us of our fiduciary responsibilities. Thus, we have no intention of deeding away development rights in a way that would undermine the value of our donors' contributions.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors
Boothbay Harbor Waterfront Preservation (BBHWP)
Strengthening Our Working Waterfront
We’re proud to share that Boothbay Harbor Waterfront Preservation has been awarded a Working Waterfront Resiliency Grant from the State of Maine. This vital funding, part of a $21 million initiative supporting nearly 70 coastal projects, will help us rebuild and protect critical infrastructure damaged by the 2024 winter storms.
Our grant—matched 1:1 and totaling $86,500—will go toward elevating the historic boathouse on the South Pier, which serves as a key hub for the local fishing industry and is home to the Luke’s Lobster buying station. By raising the boathouse over three feet, we’re ensuring that it can better withstand future storm surges and continue to support the commercial fishermen who rely on it for equipment storage and boat maintenance.
Boothbay Harbor Waterfront Preservation was the only recipient in our region, and we’re honored to play a leading role in making our working waterfront more resilient in the face of climate change.
“This funding is so important to our mission to provide a fully equipped dock for our fishing industry,” said BBHWP Board President John O’Connell. “It underscores the state’s recognition of how vital the working waterfront is to our community.”
DREAM
From the beginning, our goal was always to create a beautiful space that celebrated both the region and the working waterfront. We have worked hard to create a design that would meet all the criteria and satisfy local guidelines.
BUILD
After a year-long funding campaign to buy the old Cap n’ Fish motel, we were able to donate furniture to the community, remove the old asbestos and finally clear the site. With the buildings down, we had a much better idea of how the finished park might look.
SUSTAIN
Now the work is underway, we want to ensure that the park is here to enjoy for generations to come. Add your brick to our tree lined walkway to honor or memorialize someone special. We hope the completed park will bring joy to many and will provide a sanctuary for the whole family.
Working Waterfront
The Maine Coast Fisherman’s Association is in support of BBHWFP’s Working Waterfront and Public access to the water on the east side of Boothbay Harbor.
“The Boothbay Harbor Waterfront Park is an exciting project that will allow commercial fishermen access while also creating an opportunity for people to see activity on the waterfront. While combining these efforts is not easy, its impact can be significant.
While saving the working waterfront is a piece of our goal (and that of all fishermen) what we really want to see is for working waterfronts to expand and thrive in Maine’s coastal communities - and it seems as though this is an opportunity to do just that.”
“We’re happy to see efforts to preserve the working waterfront. The park allows local lobstermen to use the waterfront as a place to store and repair traps and utilize that waterfront space.
The park will be aesthetically beneficial for local businesses by creating more public dockage. It will be a major attraction for the entire east side of the harbor”
—The Page Family - ATLANTIC EDGE LOBSTER.
PAVE THE WAY!
A brick lined walkway is planned for the park. You are invited to Buy-A-Brick, personalized and engraved to commemorate a special occasion, to honor or memorialize a special person, or even to feature your business or organization.
Funds generated by the Buy-A-Brick opportunity will benefit the creation of the Eastside Waterfront Park. We all look forward to having a free place to sit and relax while we watch the events and activities on our harbor.
Think about buying a brick to help pave the way!
