As an abutting property owner and Rockland taxpayer, I am opposed to providing a conditional Waterfront 1 zone permit for Sharp's Point so that they may sell their property to their nonprofit Sail Power and Steam Museum.

First, I would like to thank Wyatt Philbrook for taking the time to explain to me the difference between a contract zone and a conditional zone. I understood him to say (and I apologize in advance if I have misunderstood what he said) that the current contract zone, which has been previously granted to Mr. Sharp, allows in this specific case  Mr Sharp to rent out offices in his administration building to non-code/non- marine related businesses.

At present, some of these businesses are massage therapists, child psychologists, nail salons, lawyers, etc. I do not believe that there are any restrictions.

This current contract zone allows Mr. Sharp to circumvent the marine, education and dining code restrictions for this waterfront zone. BUT... this current contract zone is non-transferable.

Mr. Sharp has requested that the contract zone that he currently enjoys be converted to a conditional zone, which would be transferable with any sale of the property. Once approved, the city would have little control over the type of businesses allowed in the administration building.   

A conditional zone would defeat the zoning regulations.

Mr Sharp has initiated this request because the current contract zone is non-transferable. At present, Mr Sharp would lose the ability to circumvent zoning if he sold the business without a new transferable conditional zone in place. He wishes to sell his own business to himself; e.g., selling Sharp's Point to the Sail Power and Steam Museum. With a new conditional zone, he would be able to continue his non-code use. Furthermore, any new owner would be able to circumvent current zoning if a conditional zone is approved.

Waterfront zoning laws are put in place to protect our waterfront. There is great pressure on our communities to allow non-marine related activities on our waterfront and if not protected, our waterfront will no longer be available to the fishing industry or the public.

I live beside an active waterfront. It is noisy with the marine work at the Rockland Marine and dusty from the Cement factory trains but I don't mind that because I know that these activities provide good paying jobs for local people.

I can see no value to the city or taxpayers for the proposed agreement. As far as I am concerned, Mr. Sharp wishes to sell his property to himself for only two reasons. Mr Sharp either wishes to declare his entire property as a nonprofit, therefore erasing city tax dollars, or Mr. Sharp wishes to increase the value of his property by having a conditional zone to sell it on the open market.

Please do not approve the request for a conditional waterfront zone for Sharp's Point.

It is unnecessary. If Mr Sharp wants to sell his property, he may apply for a new contract zone. Then the city still has control of the zoning This is simply a ruse to either declare the property non-profit or to increase the property's resale price. It is not in keeping with the best interests of the city.

Gaye Best lives in Rockland