As year-round residents of Pine Point, as well as abutters on our east and south boundaries of the so-called Beachwalk subdivision, we have been observing the discourse about the developments in the area at somewhat of an arm’s length, but now feel it necessary to dip our oars in the water.

If everyone from town officials to the Pine Point Residents Group to the Trumans have been quoted accurately, there does appear to be a feud, as well as a vendetta against the Trumans and whatever they do or propose to do.

1. Beginning with the last item of concern – The Fence. We do not consider the fence an insult to us or the neighborhood, but obviously it is an insult to some people who believe their view of the beach is impaired. May we suggest that those folks simply walk a few hundred feet down the town right of way and enjoy an unobstructed view of the magnificent beach and ocean. We can understand why the Trumans had a fence installed in an attempt to limit the dust created by the construction in the area, which has become a nuisance to their customers. We as abutters are also subjected to the unpleasantness of the current development in the area and plan to continue monitoring activity and future construction in an attempt to assure compliance to the town-approved subdivision plan and its restrictions. The fence is on the Trumans’ land. It is properly permitted; therefore, we would suggest, let it be.

2. The proposed town ordinance concerning conversion of motel units to condos appears to selectively target the Trumans and a few others in the area, who have yet to declare their intentions. We don’t know why Councilor Jeff Messer’s “head is spinning,” but one reason may be that the town is attempting to pass an ordinance that appears unnecessary. Current ordinances seem adequate to cover this subject. We have four such conversions in the immediate area, which, to our knowledge, have not burdened municipal services but, on the contrary, have increased taxes on these properties. Conversion to condos would reduce transient traffic, provide a more community-committed clientele, and with their proposed upgrades increase tax revenue.

3. If the Pine Point Residents Group had a grand vision for a “Gateway” to the beach, the energy expended in the last few years could have been directed toward developing a coalition of public and private individuals to purchase the old parking lot from the Trumans. After all, it was on the market for many years. Since that didn’t happen and it was subsequently sold to First Step Land Development Co. by the Truman family, it seems to us that Peter and Nick Truman have become the targets of the leadership of the residents group and some town officials. We believe that is unjustified for several reasons:

a. We have observed the Trumans operating a first-class inn.

b. Every day either Peter or Nick Truman police the parking area and Depot Street for debris including cigarette butts, all of which we doubt are left by their tenants.

c. They do not cater to unruly, loud, or obnoxious clientele.

d. They maintain appropriate traffic control.

Our intention is not to offend anyone and we hope this letter will improve the situation. At the very least, it is an opinion contrary to any we have heard expressed from the Pine Point area.

Dan Wilson and Lisa Ignaszak are residents of Pine Point in Scarborough.