I recently read with interest the article in the Portland Press Herald about Ray Richardson’s intent to gather signatures for a referendum on the zoning restrictions imposed on the Saunders’ property in Westbrook. Apparently Mr. Richardson doesn’t seem to think that what the Planning Board and City Council agreed to, with much citizen input, should apply to this particular parcel (or more specifically to Wal-Mart). He finds it too restrictive and says that it amounts to a “taking” (He is apparently upset about a recent U. S. Supreme Court ruling on an “eminent domain” case in Florida, his former home.)

Using that logic it would follow that all zoning restrictions amount to a “taking” (e.g. set back requirements.) Perhaps all residents in Westbrook should be compensated for such “takings” or be allowed to change the zoning restrictions to meet their needs or desires. I’ve always wanted to raise a few pigs in my backyard.

I would suggest to Mr. Richardson that if there is any “taking” going on, it is in the form of reductions in the property values of abutting homeowners. Perhaps the city, or better yet Wal-Mart, should compensate them for their losses – maybe call it an “impact fee.”

The truth of the matter regarding this whole issue is that this property should never have been rezoned to Gateway Commercial. (How that came about is another story.) It is a poor site for such a use. It is hemmed in by a neighborhood and the Westbrook arterial and has very poor ingress/egress for such heavy traffic flow. The driving force behind the zoning change was Wal-Mart. Unlike most retailers, they don’t need to be in a “prime” location (such as Westbrook Crossing.) They draw customers because of their size and low prices. Why pay millions more for land when they can take a marginal retail site and adapt it to their use? It’s much akin to “turning a sow’s ear into a silk purse.”

I was born and raised in Westbrook, Maine and for many years lived with the stigma of S. D. Warren and its odor. I think that as a result, Westbrook developed an inferiority complex that still carries over. In our quest for the holy grail of economic development, we are chasing a company that many other cities in the country are trying to keep out. The questions begs – what do they know that we don’t? We should be trying to develop such a site for office/light industrial use, which would have much better long term economic benefits and at the same time impact abutting residential areas to a much lesser extent.

My proposal is that if we have a referendum question on the ballot, it should be whether this particular site should be zoned Gateway Commercial or Office/Light Industrial.

G. Henry Gagnon Jr.

Westbrook