Wealthy Maine Island Enclave Looks to Limit Growth

12 December 2005 - 11:00am

Isleboro Maine, an island that is home to wealthy summer vacationers such as John Travolta and Kirstie Alley, faces several challenges as development pressure increases.

"A Wall Street investment firm's plan to develop a housing subdivision on Islesboro is spurring a contentious debate about the future of this island getaway for Hollywood celebrities and Fortune 500 executives.

Many islanders are alarmed by the size of the subdivision -- 20 lots on a 76-acre parcel -- and are organizing to stop it. But the project's supporters say it would provide jobs and boost the local economy, which revolves around taking care of wealthy summer visitors and their vacation homes.

"It's tearing the place apart," said Selectman Andrew "Pete" Anderson, who says he sees both the pros and cons of the proposed development."

Source: Maine Sunday Telegram, December 11, 2005
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At a much larger economic scale, however, one mustn’t avoid calculating the tremendous and exceptional externalities of automobile dependency.