Of course I read with great interest the story of 551/553 Shore Road  in the Jan. 23 Sentry but there were some inaccuracies. First I could not have said that all the town records before 1987 show 551 to be residential as I have no idea what they say. I would probably have said that the assessors records, as late as a map of 1997 show the property to be residential. The article also infers that Jane Nicholas delayed requesting a rezoning after waiting 16 years. Jane, nor any of us, knew her property which has always been a residence, never a business; was zoned as business. Even today if one looks on-line at assessments in Cape Elizabeth, her property is shown as “corrected from zoning map.” Then there were some remarks about restrictions regarding the other two units in 551 that the reporter himself, who had gotten the information from town councillor David Sherman, relayed to Jane Nicholas. Ms. Nicholas who is a member of the North Shore Neighborhood Association, was surprised to hear them as was I when I read them. It is our belief that the zoning map is in error, a not  uncommon occurrence evidently as town planner, Maureen O’Meara mentioned that a part of the lot of 553 was, on the zoning map, shown to be in the BA district and that, she acknowledges, is in error. However as far as 551 goes, there was never any discussion with the planning board about this since it was never entertained as a possibility.  We think it is worth at least a look through town council minutes to determine when (or if) the zoning request was made and granted.

 It is also interesting to read in the article that in order for a residential property to be three units it must be on three acres of land, and yet proposed ordinance set backs for a business (including a restaurant) abutting a residential area have been reduced 60 percent from 50 feet to 20 feet! Maybe Ms. Beal, who is a friend of Lee Wilson’s, would gain a greater understanding of the objections of an entire neighborhood if she stood upon the porch of 1 Charles Road and gazed across the 14 feet to the back of 553 Shore road. Its too bad she was not able to attend the October planning board public forum to add her voice to the lone voice of Lee Wilson in support of this rezoning. A forum, by the way in which every other speaker (at least 16) was firmly opposed. Also to read remarks like hers one would think no one else ever put a lick of paint on a building in this area! And do only long time or native Cape Elizabethan’s have any rights? Since the tax revenue for a business property is exactly the same as for a residential property granting this rezoning, in the face of so many valid and reasonable objections, would actually make it appear so.

Emily Materson

Cape Elizabeth