BOOTHBAY HARBOR, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — A planning board workgroup in Boothbay Harbor is expected to come up with recommendations to possibly change a decades-old waterfront zone.
The current zone only allows for fishing- and maritime-related businesses on the east waterfront.
Current buildings can't be torn down or even remodeled.
The move comes after investor Paul Coulombe backed out of plans to develop part of the waterfront into hotels, restaurants and a new pier to help boost tourism and the economy.
Coulombe told NEWS CENTER he pulled out because he says some members of the planning board were resistant to rezoning the area.
Coastal Maine Popcorn Co. owner Julia Roberts says changing the zone from a working waterfront into an area that would attract more visitors to the area would be a boon for the local economy.
"We want to be known as Boothbay that has kept up, not the Boothbay Harbor that has fallen behind," Robert said. "So let's go to Camden, Bar Harbor or Kennebunkport. We want to be able to keep up."
Planning board officials have not commented publicly on the issue. Public hearings and workshops are planned over the next several months to come up with recommendations to change the zone.
Those changes could be put to a town vote in early May.