Islanders Rally Against Change to Permit Condo Construction

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Kevin Carter at Last Night's Planning Board Meeting.

Kevin Carter at Last Night’s Planning Board Meeting.

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 2,601)

Kevin Carter told Portland’s Planning Board last night that he is seeking a text amendment in order to build a four-story condo at 2 Island Avenue – a property that has been in his family for about seventy (70) years.  Carter wants to build affordable housing condos with a waterfront view – in order to accomplish that the proposed building needs to be four (4) stories high – and a change in zoning to do that.

But many Peaks Island residents were having no part of his altruism.  Resident after resident expressed their opposition to the change and said it should not go forward.  Ed Ezzard said that the “potential for affordable housing is not a reason to have this go forward.” Others who testified objected to the obstruction of water views, the increase in traffic and the potential to open the door for future similar development on the Island.

Because of the extent of the opposition, the planning board recommended that Carter initiate some “community outreach and partnering with neighbors” before the next workshop with the planning board.

Following the meeting, Carter who said he is not a developer lives in North Carolina. So meeting with his neighbors will be a “challenge.”  Until May of this year, Carter was employed as CEO of HAECO Americus – an aircraft maintenance company.  It was sold by a hedge fund owner to a Chinese company.