Dear Editor:

As a lifelong Mainer from a commercial fishing family who cares about resource preservation, I’m deeply invested in balancing public access with regulations to protect our coast and tidal rivers like the Sheepscot.

In Alna, we have a shoreland zoning ordinance (SZO) on our books that took years, lots of scrutiny and multiple stakeholders to craft. It’s a comprehensive ordinance that weaves together the competing interests of the public commons with individual property rights and state and federal environmental regulations.

The result is a cherished river that serves us all.

As I think most people have realized, the pandemic has resulted in a very hot real estate market. There is currently strong real estate development pressure everywhere in Maine, including in Alna. Therefore, we need to continue to have strong rules if we are going to continue to protect the Sheepscot.

I’m not convinced that we have a problem with our SZO, but if we do decide that the SZO needs amending then we need a thoughtful process and a comprehensive solution, not just a yes/no option on a referendum question drafted by one person.

Changing a single article in the SZO without considering the rest of the ordinance could have damaging unintended consequences. I urge my neighbors to vote No on Article 27 on March 27 and allow time for a more considered approach - if change is even warranted.

Bridget Mullen

Alna