Month: September 2020

Excavation Permit Issued

Unfortunately the developer has applied for and the town has issued an excavation permit for the 20 Central Street site of the proposed hotel. The strategy feels somewhat akin to the London Blitz of 1940-1941. The developer might think materially damaging the current vista by blasting and excavation will break the will of citizens concerned with the equitable application of the Rockport Land Use Ordinance, or that money spent will influence the Zoning Board of Appeals review of the Planning Board’s erroneous approval of the hotel site plan.

Your support for the Friends of Rockport is clearly needed now, more than ever. We need the developer and the town to know that this blasting and excavation work will not break the will of the people, and that the ZBA will not be bullied by sheer ‘we’ve already started, don’t stop us now’ logic.

Select Board’s New Parking Lot

Do you want the Select Board to use your money to fund a new parking lot, looming above Rockport harbor, just steps away from the proposed hotel?

You may not have noticed, but the Town and Select Board are now considering constructing a new parking lot adjacent to the sewer pump station along Main Street in Rockport village. Conveniently located for the new hotel, the proposed new parking lot will contain 17 or 28 spaces and loom over our scenic harbor with new retaining walls akin to those behind the opera house. The preliminary design was created by the town retained Gartley & Dorsey Engineering & Surveying (that’s right, the hotel developer’s engineering firm).

You should exercise your right to comment on this new initiative now. The Select Board is discussing the proposed designs on Monday, September 28, at 5:30PM. You can participate via the livestream here http://livestream.com/Rockportmaine and comment during the discussion of the proposed parking. We encourage all to share your thoughts in advance of the meeting, too. Address your comments for the meeting to the Rockport Select Board and email to town manager Bill Post before 3PM on Monday, September 28.

Do you think it is incumbent upon the taxpayers to deliver parking for the new hotel? Do you think a new retaining wall and parking lot hanging above the Goose River will enhance the beauty of Rockport’s harbor? If not, log on to the meeting and share your thoughts.

Learn more in the PenBay Pilot article and send your comments now.

Rockport Hotel Update

If you happened to pass through downtown Rockport on Thursday, September 10 you may have noticed some disturbing activity at the site of the proposed Rockport Hotel.

Not missing a beat in eradicating the centuries old scenic view from Goodridge Park and Shepherd Block

Conversations with the town office confirm that no building permit has been issued, but that “test boring” does not require a permit.

You may think that the overwhelming vote of the citizens of Rockport in favor of Article 4, limiting hotels in the downtown district to 20 rooms, would have caused the Rockport hotel developer to revise the plans for the property. Their assertions throughout the run up to the Town Meeting vote that they need not modify the exterior design may, in fact, be true.

This merely reinforces the need for your support for the citizens based appeal of the Planning Board’s approval of this Rockport hotel design with its 68 exterior lights, 30 balconies, ‘rooftop bar’ and ‘valet parking.’ Look here for details on the date, and please consider contributing to the Friends of Rockport at PO Box 624, Rockport, ME 04856, everything helps.