The Town of Rockport Economic Development Committee was created by the Select Board in 2020 to advise the board on issues related to economic development. Over the years our committee has reviewed existing reports and solicited additional input from residents regarding the nature and pace of growth that is desirable for our town. And though there exists a range of opinions, there are several goals with very broad support:

• Reduce our individual tax burden through growing the tax base;
• Increase housing at all levels with particular emphasis on affordable (workforce) housing so that people can both live and work in Rockport; and
• Encourage growth that avoids sprawl and is in character with our historic community.

These consensus goals are among the key reasons that the undersigned members of the current and former Economic Development Committee endorse Warrant Article 3 on the June ballot.

The option to develop our own modern sewage treatment capability would not only reduce the cost of wastewater treatment for our residents but would also allow Rockport to support the type of housing and other growth that we desire. It would allow Rockport to expand its tax base by supporting commercial business that depends on municipal sewer. It would put Rockport firmly in control of these decisions and its future growth without being dependent on the fiscal, political, regulatory, engineering, and other challenges facing neighboring communities.

Rockport currently has its sewage processed by contract in Camden and Rockland. Contracted prices for these treatment services are not only higher for Rockport users than user residents in our neighboring communities but also higher than most communities in Maine.

In addition to high prices, neither Rockland nor Camden can currently provide a feasible solution for any increase in wastewater volume. Camden cannot accept additional volume for the foreseeable future as it seeks to understand current processing challenges at its own facility. And expanding volume to Rockland would require major investments to reverse the flow of sewage and would result in a higher proportion of wastewater being processed in Rockland where rates are even higher than in Camden.

What this means for Rockport today is that we cannot support growth of the type of housing people desire along established growth corridors in our community. We can neither support new housing where sewer lines are already in place, nor can we consider expanding sewer lines along Route 90 (or elsewhere) in support of existing or future housing development proposals. One such project is the long-imagined Ingraham Corner development at the junction of Route 17 and 90. This project supports every one of the consensus goals in our community but is dependent on access to town sewer. 

Rockport has partnered with our neighboring communities on many services over the years and the Economic Development Committee supports efforts to continue to do so when it serves our residents’ best interests. Were there a clear opportunity at this time to partner on wastewater treatment, the town would be best served to do so and the committee supports such ongoing discussions. However, the level of uncertainty about the future ability of our neighbors to help, along with the need for Rockport to control its own future, increase the tax base by expanding residential and commercial development, and support consensus growth are why the undersigned current and former EDC members endorse the Warrant Article 3 on the June ballot. 

Current and Former Members of Rockport Economic Development Committee

Debra Hall, Chair

David Pio, Former Chair

Richard Anderson

Barrett Brown