And the city continues to operate under a comprehensive plan that was rejected by the state nearly a decade ago because it failed to adequately address issues of sprawl and strip development. Ellsworth often is held up by the rest of the state as a bad example of uncontrolled development, and the patchwork of shopping malls and other business establishments along the High Street-Route 3 corridor provides ample support for that viewpoint. But there s another side of Ellsworth. We are fortunate to have merchants who have worked tirelessly to set and adhere to informal voluntary standards enabling the city s downtown area to retain the best elements of smalltown America. Ellsworth has arguably the best downtown shopping of any community in the state, and stands in sharp contrast to the main streets of Augusta, Lewiston, Bangor and Portland.
Economic development is the lifeblood of any community.
Those calling for a moratorium have said time and again they do not seek to prevent development. But Ellsworth residents have the right to decide where such development is appropriate and what form it should take. The city needs to apply some of the same values elsewhere that have been used so effectively downtown. That cannot happen without planning, and planning requires time before, not after, mistakes have been made and damage done. There is no guarantee Ellsworth voters would support a moratorium.