Some months ago, my wife Kathy and I approached the town of Scarborough about our property at 61 King St. with the thought of combining two pieces of land to provide three buildable lots.

We have enjoyed summers at Scarborough very much since my dad bought the spot in 1940. It was an old house then, which had been owned by maiden nieces of the American artist Winston Churchill.

The frontage was 50 feet on the road, and it being World War II, the Army built two barracks in the space on Avenue Four between the family cottage and the Crocker’s house, with trenches along the beach.

Seventy-five years later, none of us are surprised that time has changed. Avenue Four no longer has two barracks on it, the Pillsbury House is gone and there is a municipal parking lot to our left. To our right are the houses that were built along Dunefield Road.

When the town sent us notice of the Dunefield development, we in no way were opposed to reasonable progress. After all, we had seen the development of Pillsbury Shores after the Army Corps of Engineers dredged the channel.

The current arrangement of our property and the town’s land makes sense for no one.

Scarborough has valuable beachfront land on the Avenue Four extension, but no road will ever be built there. And we have land that is taxed at a high value, but has a very old cottage on its street side and unrealized value in its front.

Were the two lots to be combined, with such a beach access provided at either side of the combined lots, that would leave three potential lots available for development, and tax revenue for Scarborough, and a modest benefit for its schools.

To achieve the three lots, Dunefield Road would have to be extended some 80 to 85 feet, but it would not become an access for the municipal parking lot.

The town has received some letters from people on Dunefield who oppose any change, but they need to understand the pros and cons fully before taking a position.

If the town and our family partner to achieve this land swap and the three newly created lots are sold, the town would receive half of the purchase price – probably around $1 million, plus the payment of taxes on the developed properties.

Neither our family nor the town should subsidize a neighbor’s desire for privacy. Our family has always loved Pine Point, and always valued beach access for all.

It was also always great fun to go to Old Orchard Beach many years ago, and visit Noah’s Ark. The cost was modest in those days, but there was no free ride. Nor should there be a free ride in Pine Point now.

The Wellehan family owns an historic cottage at 61 King St. at Pine Point in Scarborough and has approached the town about a land swap.