To the Editor:

I am a person who has, in the past, owned land across which locals needed to pass in order to access beaches. But since I am not involved in the present dispute over access to Cedar Beach in Harpswell, I would not wish to comment directly on the controversy.

However, I have noted in your commentary (“Public access is great, but at what cost?” Sept. 13, Page A14), a central point that has received far too little attention.

From an owner’s point of view, a crucial concern is how much the value of the land will be reduced by granting public access across it.

This is the fair basis upon which they should be reimbursed for that access. After all, if this is insufficient, it amounts to a gift to the town which could lie well into the six-figures. How many residents are prepared to be that generous?

I see from the commentary that there are two assessments of the reduction in land value: one is $950,000 for the easement and the other is $220,000.

For two professional assessments of the same land under similar conditions, such a difference is startling. At least one of them would have to be very wrong.

It appears to me that the town would be well-advised to put its proceedings on hold until this discrepancy can be explained and eliminated. No fair outcome can be achieved until this is done.

Edmund R. Peay
Brunswick