SOUTHWEST HARBOR, April 29, 2026 - The abutter who won the appeal against the owner of a guest house on Clark Point Road is asking Superior Court to stop the construction which has not abated despite the 4-1 ruling by the town’s Appeals Board last September.
Worth visiting and having a look. The building looks quite different today. The work has progressed dramatically over the intervening months. Certainly doesn't look like a situation where the Board of Appeals action had any teeth whatsoever. Sad when situations like this play out-over and over again in plain sight of the public.
The entire project "guest house" at 72 Clark Point Rd., was based on an application which was NEVER investigated by the CEO, which issued a construction permit based on a "footprint" of the prior greenhouse. As the greenhouse was had been removed before May 2023, the "footprint" argument wasn't valid. The permit was issued in December 2024, more than a year after removal, a violation of the ordinance provision... And, the setback provision of 15 feet.
Was anyone following the law?
In addition, the prior owner of 72 Clark Point Rd., stated there was No sewer in the greenhouse. The new owner's application for a building permit stated there was existing sewer. And yet, NO CEO inspection or investigation... at the time.
The town is covering up FACTS, to what end?
Malfeasance, by the then CEO?
Ignorance, by the Board of Appeals? and its Chair?
Political points, by the Select Board as retaliation?
Finally, who benefits from the failure to follow the law?
The facts of the 72 Clark Point Rd., situation should be studied as an example of the failure of intellectual corruption in local town government!
It is worth noting that attorney Collins also represents the City of Belfast in the eminent domain (ED) case filed by the homeowners whose property was taken by the City to support Nordic Aquafarms in its salmon-raising factory on the Little River. Attorney Collins had consistently resisted attempts to negotiate a reasonable out-of-court settlement in that case. The case will likely go all the way to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. That will cost Belfast tax payers even more!
Really haven't seen coverage of the Planning Boards role in this. Plenty about John Larson and the debacle that's called the Appeals Board. Yeah, the real estate developer was allowed to take advantage of a situation (Wwe'll never know just how), and the town is now navigating how not to get sued from either side of the debate. Best get used to the 1 foot set-back and move on.
It's outrageous that this has not been more closely scrutinized. Since when does "this project should be stopped because it was wrong from the start" mean the same thing as "continue to build a house"??
Worth visiting and having a look. The building looks quite different today. The work has progressed dramatically over the intervening months. Certainly doesn't look like a situation where the Board of Appeals action had any teeth whatsoever. Sad when situations like this play out-over and over again in plain sight of the public.
The entire project "guest house" at 72 Clark Point Rd., was based on an application which was NEVER investigated by the CEO, which issued a construction permit based on a "footprint" of the prior greenhouse. As the greenhouse was had been removed before May 2023, the "footprint" argument wasn't valid. The permit was issued in December 2024, more than a year after removal, a violation of the ordinance provision... And, the setback provision of 15 feet.
Was anyone following the law?
In addition, the prior owner of 72 Clark Point Rd., stated there was No sewer in the greenhouse. The new owner's application for a building permit stated there was existing sewer. And yet, NO CEO inspection or investigation... at the time.
The town is covering up FACTS, to what end?
Malfeasance, by the then CEO?
Ignorance, by the Board of Appeals? and its Chair?
Political points, by the Select Board as retaliation?
Finally, who benefits from the failure to follow the law?
The facts of the 72 Clark Point Rd., situation should be studied as an example of the failure of intellectual corruption in local town government!
It is worth noting that attorney Collins also represents the City of Belfast in the eminent domain (ED) case filed by the homeowners whose property was taken by the City to support Nordic Aquafarms in its salmon-raising factory on the Little River. Attorney Collins had consistently resisted attempts to negotiate a reasonable out-of-court settlement in that case. The case will likely go all the way to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. That will cost Belfast tax payers even more!
Question: Why was the owner of 72 Clark Point Rd. allowed to file suit outside of Hancock County?
Walk us through your discoveries Aly.
Really haven't seen coverage of the Planning Boards role in this. Plenty about John Larson and the debacle that's called the Appeals Board. Yeah, the real estate developer was allowed to take advantage of a situation (Wwe'll never know just how), and the town is now navigating how not to get sued from either side of the debate. Best get used to the 1 foot set-back and move on.
It's outrageous that this has not been more closely scrutinized. Since when does "this project should be stopped because it was wrong from the start" mean the same thing as "continue to build a house"??
Another example of "MDI-Mississippi on the Atlantic"