An extension of year-round water and sewer along Route 27 in Boothbay, from Storage Lane to River Road, is in the planning stages. In upcoming months, Boothbay residents will decide whether or not to fund the project. Who benefits, who pays, and what development is likely to occur due to the project will be at the heart of the discussion.

The Wright-Pierce December 2006 preliminary project report divides the proposed project into four phases. Phase 1 would provide year-round water and sewer from Storage Lane (just south of Adams Pond) to the Industrial Park at an estimated cost of $3.1 million. Phase 1 is the most expensive phase of the project covering the most distance and requiring the installation of three pump stations. Phase 1A would extend water and sewer along the Industrial Park Road, with project costs of $947,000. Phase 2 would extend water and sewer up to Hardwick Road ($1.24 million), and Phase 3 would extend from Hardwick Road to River Road ($453,000). Although the report divides the project, voters will probably be voting on funding for the project as a whole.

According to Boothbay Town Manager John Anderson, the primary purposes of the proposed project are to provide protection to Adams Pond and to provide essential services necessary to economic development along the Route 27 commercially-zoned corridor. The extension would also provide improved fire protection. The conception of this project pre-dates Anderson's arrival in Boothbay, but he says that it was stimulated by a state report regarding water quality concerns in Adams Pond and by the formation of the Boothbay Region Water District (BRWD). Anderson says that when considering the future of the peninsula, it becomes quickly apparent that water is the biggest limiting factor to development and growth of the whole peninsula. When the BRWD formed, the water and sewer boards, in conjunction with the town, began to define what projects were necessary to meet the town's needs for growth. This project derives directly from that planning process.

Anderson says that in conversations with businesses interested in the Industrial Park, water and sewer have been a frequent concern. "People looking to develop in the Industrial Park area are all looking for water and sewer. Small employers can deal with on-site systems, but when a business gets into 40 to 60 to 100 employees, on-site septic just doesn't cut it," said Anderson.

Jon Ziegra, BRWD manager, agrees that there are both water quality and quantity problems for properties along the proposed extension route that would be resolved by the project.

What the proposed extension would mean to development along Route 27 cannot be accurately predicted. Zoning ordinances are in place to prevent "postage stamp lots," but it seems likely that provision of water and sewer could spur development beyond the Industrial Park. This stretch of Route 27 encompasses several large parcels of land that have only been minimally developed to date (the largest parcel along the route is about 150 acres; several parcels are greater than 25 acres). Anderson points out the benefits to Adams Pond from capturing sewage from these properties, but it seems that increased commercial and residential development, with more paved surfaces and runoff, has the potential to increase contaminant loads in the watershed.

Ziegra says, "The number-one threat to water quality is improper construction and the addition of impervious surfaces within the watershed. Contaminated storm water by far contributes the greatest amount of contamination to the drinking water supply."

Anderson points out that the Boothbay Comprehensive Plan considers this portion of the Route 27 corridor as a commercial zone for the town. "The density requirement increases as you move away from the Common. The planning board didn't want to see postage stamp lots or strip mall development as you're coming into Boothbay, and they are now looking to keep to the goals and objectives of the plan," said Anderson. According to Anderson, the planning board has been considering growth-related issues since the BRWD was formed, and has been looking specifically to ensure that zoning ordinances are consistent with the Town Comprehensive Plan.

Anderson hopes to offset about half the project costs with a $2.4 million Rural Development Grant loan and a $1 million Economic Development Assistance Grant loan. Determining how to assess project costs among citizens is still being considered. Anderson says "Conceptually, we've talked about 50 percent being paid by the citizens of Boothbay at large and the other half being paid by user fees, a betterment assessment to those who directly benefit from the project."

Basically, the extension route along Route 27 would become a betterment district, and individual property owners would be directly assessed for some portion of the project.

"Betterments are the only way usually you can get a project to happen … I know some people in the community are going to be asking `What is my benefit from this project?' For those outside the project area, the benefit is there is seasonal water and your water comes from Adams Pond," said Anderson.

The town is planning a public forum in March for all property owners along the extension route to discuss the benefits of the project and what they are willing to pay to make it happen. "If there is not an agreement there, then we're barking up the wrong tree. I don't see the town paying for this project 100 percent," Anderson said. Although many along the route are likely to welcome the project and consider the benefits worth the costs, some along the route may see the costs of the project as too high. Beyond the betterment assessment, the planning board is considering requiring all property owners along the proposed extension route to connect to the new sewer line so as to ensure benefits to Adams Pond. Individual property owners are responsible for the costs of connecting to the sewer line. Even if the planning board does not require connection, Chris Higgins, Boothbay Harbor Sewer District Manager, says that any property owner who does not connect will still be assessed a "ready to serve" fee, roughly $220 a year.

If the project makes it through the betterment district meeting, the entire town will have the opportunity to discuss the merits of the project during town meeting in April. The water/sewer extension project is the only bond issue currently on the town warrant. However, Anderson doesn't think that the town's decision will be focused on the financial aspects of the project, but on the project's benefit to Boothbay. "It's not so much about the money … Is this project a benefit to the Town of Boothbay for the next five years, 10 years, 40 years, 50 years?" asks Anderson.

It's up to the voters of Boothbay to decide.