[This letter is a response to the Scarborough Economic Development Corporation’s board vote to not support the Scarborough Village project.]

Editor:

      Thank you for sharing the deliberations of the Scarborough Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO) as pertains to the future development of Scarborough Village.  We of course share the Board’s interest in designing the most beneficial use of the land surrounding Scarborough Downs and bordered by Route 1, Haigis Parkway and Payne Road.  We are concerned the Board may have acted without adequate information regarding the current status of the development plan.  

    We submit that if you have the chance to meet with our group you will be satisfied that the process we are undertaking and the plans developed to date ensure our proposed development will not be a  “racino-centric model” and that we will answer your questions concerning  “the real impacts on the workforce, traffic and town services if a development of this type, scope and size was brought to fruition.”  We are of course in the relatively early planning stages.  But Ms. Terry has engaged top design and engineering professionals and has made clear that she insists on a first-rate development that meets and exceeds the town’s objectives while helping to preserve an important rural Maine industry.   The ongoing public charrette planning process will inform the development decisions made as we go forward, and we of course remain eager to meet with your Board, to answer your concerns, and to gain the benefit of your insights.   

   We had been looking forward to such a constructive engagement with the SEDCO board and had approached Executive Director Harvey Rosenfeld to schedule a presentation.  We were advised the most recent Board meeting agenda was full, and we anticipated presenting to you at an upcoming meeting.  We were scheduled to meet with Mr. Rosenfeld upon his return from vacation.  Unfortunately, the Board’s recent vote was taken in his absence and before we had a chance to meet with or make a presentation to the Board.  

   But this important project is still young, and we look forward to presenting the current concepts for the development of Scarborough Village at the next available Board meeting.  We think you will be pleasantly surprised by the openness and transparency of our planning process.  We are confident we can work constructively together to develop Scarborough Village in a way that meets the best interest of the town and business community.

   We appreciate SEDCO’s long standing dedication to the town of Scarborough and appreciate your time and consideration.

Gene Beaudoin

Northern Expedition