Editor:
    At a recent Kennebunkport Selectmen’s meeting the subject of affordable housing and home occupations came up. Ironically it was raised by a selectman that was active in defeating the 2005 Kennebunkport Comprehensive Plan. I suggest that selectman look no further than that plan for possible solutions.
    Growth planning committees have wasted seven years trying to draft a new Comprehensive Plan that would be acceptable to the voters of Kennebunkport. No plan will ever be approved without the involvement and support of our elected officials. A pro-active board of selectmen could have easily revised the 2005 plan and it would be in effect today. A new plan is needed to completely re-write the land use ordinance to encourage affordable housing, elderly housing and home occupations.
    As the population of Kennebunkport ages few options exist to allow even life long residents to remain in the community if they can no longer maintain a private residence or need living assistance. It is also difficult for our children to find housing as they enter the workforce.
    I’m sure few people realize the existing potential to develop a mobile home park with hundreds of units within walking distance of Goose Rocks Beach. There is no question such a project would be successful but it would also forever change the character of that area. Current zoning also permits motels, hotels and many other commercial uses in the farm and forest zone. There are many such examples that make no sense at all.
    Our current pattern of development defies all the elements of smart growth and could eventually cost us dearly.
    It would be refreshing to see our elected officials support the growth planning committee by convening a meeting with themselves and the planning board and finally put this matter to rest.

Bill Case
Kennebunkport