Letter: Development will destroy area’s charm, dignity (July 3, 2008)
Editor:
[The following is a statement by Jane Morgan Weintraub to Kennebunkport Planning Board regarding proposed Olde Port Village development]
I am Jane Morgan Weintraub. I have lived in Kennebunkport on and off since my brother, Robert, started the playhouse when I was 4 years old.
I have owned Blueberry Hill Farm since 1958 and I love this town. It has a unique quality and I believe its residents are aware of that. I have maintained my property in its original state, blueberries, apple orchards, woods and all. It is a place of beauty and tranquility and brings everyone who visits there an acute sense of euphoria.
But I understand that times change. There are others who want to enjoy Kennebunkport as much as I do, We need to find a balance. A balance between maintaining our exceptional lifestyle in a place that has charm and dignity and the creation of more space for others who come to enjoy its great appeal. However, the CDMK development is not the answer to that balance.
The planning board has a tough job to do here. There are so many aspects of this large development that require consideration and I applaud their patience and perseverance.
But we, as residents of this town and neighbors of this property feel compelled to make objections when we realize that a disservice is being imposed on the residents by such an oversized project being contemplated, as well as the potential of disaster down the road when mistakes are made, as they invariably are.
From a personal point of view, I do admit, yes, I am very much against the building of a recreation center next to my property, with the accompanying community swimming pool and tennis courts, with all the lights, the cars, the noise that such a center would create.
I do admit I am opposed to the cutting of all the fine old trees that border my land to be replaced by new five foot ones that provide no buffer from all the activities on the other side with very little setback.
I do admit that I am opposed to a construction process that could well stretch into years of dust and pollution from noisy heavy equipment and the transport of materials that will be needed for the construction of all the infrastructure as well as the homes.
And I am opposed to the excessive amount of traffic after homes are completed. It is estimated that two cars from 82 homes, plus service vehicles will make in the neighborhood of 10 trips each, traveling in and out of the location on a daily basis, along that one mile-plus road. That sounds like lots of traffic to me.
Yes, I do believe that the developers have overreached in their plan of 82 homes on such a narrow piece of land that is riddled by wetlands and areas of rock ledge that will require drilling and grading.
However, I am aware of the fact that, no matter how strong are my opinions regarding all this, the planning board needs to deal with the proposed development itself and not with personal feelings.
So let’s discuss the many unanswered questions in the development application.
Does the plan threaten the habitats of endangered animal species and plant life that has the protection of the government of the state of Maine as well as the federal government?
Is it really necessary to destroy 90 acres of what must be virgin forest to provide space for 82 duplexes and multiplexes with the necessary roads, and driveways and parking lots that provide access to those dwellings?
Is it right to try to shoehorn the roads and buildings of this project in and among the extensive wetlands on this site to facilitate the movement of hundreds of vehicles and even more people? I have always been told that wetlands deserve protection.
Will this development destroy the winter habitat of countless deer and numerous other types of animals that will be driven away by the timber cutting and the construction of the infrastructure and the homes and buildings? The road alone is estimated to require countless amounts of fill to make it level and high enough to be above the wetlands.
Should an entrance to such a large, crowded property be placed on a two-lane narrow thoroughfare that is already heavily traveled by residents, service vehicles, and tourists coming and going to points north of the town? That road will undoubtedly be overwhelmed by the volume of traffic. It seems certain that both of the entrances will have the same problem.
Why allow a mile long 20-foot wide road to traverse the property instead of the customary 24-foot wide one that has been required by the planning board in the past?
I want to assure you all that my statement is not intended to harm anyone.Nor am I solely interested in benefitting myself in any way from these comments. I truly do care about Kennebunkport, and I just don’t feel that this project is the answer for this community. Good luck to you all. May the wise decision prevail.
Jane Morgan Weintraub
Kennebunkport
[The following is a statement by Jane Morgan Weintraub to Kennebunkport Planning Board regarding proposed Olde Port Village development]
I am Jane Morgan Weintraub. I have lived in Kennebunkport on and off since my brother, Robert, started the playhouse when I was 4 years old.
I have owned Blueberry Hill Farm since 1958 and I love this town. It has a unique quality and I believe its residents are aware of that. I have maintained my property in its original state, blueberries, apple orchards, woods and all. It is a place of beauty and tranquility and brings everyone who visits there an acute sense of euphoria.
But I understand that times change. There are others who want to enjoy Kennebunkport as much as I do, We need to find a balance. A balance between maintaining our exceptional lifestyle in a place that has charm and dignity and the creation of more space for others who come to enjoy its great appeal. However, the CDMK development is not the answer to that balance.
The planning board has a tough job to do here. There are so many aspects of this large development that require consideration and I applaud their patience and perseverance.
But we, as residents of this town and neighbors of this property feel compelled to make objections when we realize that a disservice is being imposed on the residents by such an oversized project being contemplated, as well as the potential of disaster down the road when mistakes are made, as they invariably are.
From a personal point of view, I do admit, yes, I am very much against the building of a recreation center next to my property, with the accompanying community swimming pool and tennis courts, with all the lights, the cars, the noise that such a center would create.
I do admit I am opposed to the cutting of all the fine old trees that border my land to be replaced by new five foot ones that provide no buffer from all the activities on the other side with very little setback.
I do admit that I am opposed to a construction process that could well stretch into years of dust and pollution from noisy heavy equipment and the transport of materials that will be needed for the construction of all the infrastructure as well as the homes.
And I am opposed to the excessive amount of traffic after homes are completed. It is estimated that two cars from 82 homes, plus service vehicles will make in the neighborhood of 10 trips each, traveling in and out of the location on a daily basis, along that one mile-plus road. That sounds like lots of traffic to me.
Yes, I do believe that the developers have overreached in their plan of 82 homes on such a narrow piece of land that is riddled by wetlands and areas of rock ledge that will require drilling and grading.
However, I am aware of the fact that, no matter how strong are my opinions regarding all this, the planning board needs to deal with the proposed development itself and not with personal feelings.
So let’s discuss the many unanswered questions in the development application.
Does the plan threaten the habitats of endangered animal species and plant life that has the protection of the government of the state of Maine as well as the federal government?
Is it really necessary to destroy 90 acres of what must be virgin forest to provide space for 82 duplexes and multiplexes with the necessary roads, and driveways and parking lots that provide access to those dwellings?
Is it right to try to shoehorn the roads and buildings of this project in and among the extensive wetlands on this site to facilitate the movement of hundreds of vehicles and even more people? I have always been told that wetlands deserve protection.
Will this development destroy the winter habitat of countless deer and numerous other types of animals that will be driven away by the timber cutting and the construction of the infrastructure and the homes and buildings? The road alone is estimated to require countless amounts of fill to make it level and high enough to be above the wetlands.
Should an entrance to such a large, crowded property be placed on a two-lane narrow thoroughfare that is already heavily traveled by residents, service vehicles, and tourists coming and going to points north of the town? That road will undoubtedly be overwhelmed by the volume of traffic. It seems certain that both of the entrances will have the same problem.
Why allow a mile long 20-foot wide road to traverse the property instead of the customary 24-foot wide one that has been required by the planning board in the past?
I want to assure you all that my statement is not intended to harm anyone.Nor am I solely interested in benefitting myself in any way from these comments. I truly do care about Kennebunkport, and I just don’t feel that this project is the answer for this community. Good luck to you all. May the wise decision prevail.
Jane Morgan Weintraub
Kennebunkport
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