PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 24, 2021
As supporters of community sailing and waterfront access in Portland, we are disappointed that SailMaine has not been included in the planning process of Portland Harbor Common and Portland’s eastern waterfront. At the Portland Harbor Common Public Forum on June 15, city planners shared a design proposed for the eastern waterfront by a local team. The design presented indicates the removal of all space for the operations of Sail Maine and other water-based nonprofits. The omission of these programs from this design and their exclusion from the planning discussions is unacceptable. The Portland Planning Board should prioritize community water access and marine activities before moving forward with the development plan. The planning process should include stakeholders from the community organizations that have offered these commodities on the eastern waterfront for more than 20 years. ~ Carolyn and Troy Fernald and Rebecca and Tim Ermlich, Portland