SCARBOROUGH –  The Sprague Corp. has revised its proposal for a beachfront park off Black Point Road to include walking trails, picnic areas, a playground and a multi-purpose recreational field.

But neighbors say the changes don’t go far enough to address their concerns. Most of them would like to see no park at all, or a scaled-back version of the 500-car parking area that the Sprague Corp. wants to develop next to Scarborough Beach State Park.

About 100 people filled Scarborough Town Hall’s meeting chamber Thursday night. It was a replay of a meeting Jan. 31, at which the Zoning Board of Appeals heard more than four hours of testimony but postponed making a decision to give the applicant more time to refine its proposal.

Thursday’s hearing continued late into the night, and the board had made no decision by press time.

Seth Sprague, president of the Sprague Corp., told the board that he revised the plan for Black Point Park and met with neighbors in an attempt to find common ground.

“We hope that this revised plan will eliminate or reduce the opposition to our proposal,” he said.

It did not. Nearly all of the people who spoke at the hearing said they oppose plans for Black Point Park.

The zoning board has been flooded with letters and emails, most opposing the proposed beach park, said Mark Maroon, chairman of the board.

To advance its plan, the Sprague Corp. needs a special-exception permit from the board for a commercial outdoor recreational facility.

The plan would then go before Scarborough’s Planning Board for site plan approval.

Sprague said his family has no intention of backing down.

“We realize that over the years the fact that the Sprague Corp. has kept use of this land static has been reassuring,” he said. “Now, we are coming forward with a change and we realize it is difficult for some people.”

The 64-acre property would be developed in two phases, with the goal of developing enough space for 500 vehicles.

Town officials say that would bring at least 1,500 people a day to the neighborhood in the summer.

One resident, John Lee, said his family has lived in the neighborhood since the early 1970s. He said it was his understanding that the Sprague family was committed to preserving the land as open space.

“Now, all of a sudden, they are turning this into a cash cow,” Lee said. “I thought the land would be there forever for the jackrabbits and the piping plovers.”

Staff Writer Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at:

dhoey@pressherald.com