Arundel has a crucial decision to make regarding the expansion application by Bentley’s Saloon from 180 to 775 patrons. Noteworthy is York County Sheriff’s office reported 100 calls of service involving Bentley’s Saloon in 2009, dwarfing call numbers by other area businesses. That figure does not even include any calls that were directed to state police. Is this the type of business we want in the same community where we live?

Last year the sherriff indicated at a selectmen’s meeting a concern stemming from a rash of alleged OUI offenses, with several reportedly from Bentley’s Saloon patrons. That was with 180 patrons. What will happen when there are 775?

In 2009, Bentley’s violated and was fined three times for exceeding capacity. So when does your track record count against you? An additional insult is many of Bentley’s Saloon patrons do not even live in town and I believe their own communities would not put up with the noise and excessive drain on police resources.

Consider this: the most recent assessment for the Bentley’s Saloon property was only $581,000, which calculates to a tax payment of roughly $7,673. Is that worth sacrificing every nice weekend of spring, summer, and fall?

Why should a single business trump the right to peace and quiet of thousands of area residents?

I urge residents of Arundel and the Kennebunks to attend the public hearing April 15 and ask the planning board to uphold land-use ordinances and not approve the expansion request. We all want businesses to thrive, however, when a business operation infringes on the enjoyment of people’s homes and lives, it no longer fits into a rural town’s character.

Our Comprehensive Plan and land use ordinance gives priority to prevention of noise impacting surrounding neighborhoods. I hope the planning board sees fit to carry through with what voters decided.

Daren Keller

Arundel