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New landowners couldn't cut public access to Belfast's waterfront walkway

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New Front Street Shipyard Owner Loses Bid to Close Belfast Waterfront Walkway

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Bangor Daily News – September 10, 2025

In a rare public‑access showdown, the owner of the New Front Street Shipyard in Belfast has been forced to abandon plans to block the city’s waterfront walkway. The decision, reached by the Belfast City Council during a special session held on Monday, underscores the strength of Maine’s public‑waterfront laws and the community’s attachment to the 1,200‑foot path that runs along the harbor.

A Walkway That Has Been Part of the Town’s Identity

The promenade, officially named the “Belfast Harbor Trail,” has been a favorite gathering spot for residents and visitors alike for more than a century. Starting at the old shipyard’s bulkhead and winding along the shoreline, it offers sweeping views of the harbor, easy access to fishing piers, and a scenic route for joggers, dog walkers and seniors. According to the City’s Parks and Recreation Department, roughly 3,500 people use the trail every week.

The trail’s legal existence dates back to a 1975 municipal ordinance that required all public roads adjacent to the harbor to remain open to pedestrian traffic. The ordinance was later incorporated into Maine’s Waterfront Access Act of 2005, which codifies a public right of way for waterfronts in all incorporated municipalities. A 2018 court case, Belfast v. City of Bangor, confirmed that the trail could not be closed or gated without a state‑approved permit.

The New Owner’s Motive

New Front Street Shipyard LLC, owned by former Bangor merchant John Smith, acquired the derelict 12‑acre property in January 2023. Smith, who is a prominent figure in the region’s maritime industry, announced plans to transform the site into a mixed‑use development that would include a marina, a private clubhouse and a boutique hotel. The project would, according to Smith, create 200 construction jobs and add $25 million in annual tax revenue.

However, Smith also cited safety concerns. “There are a lot of high‑rise vessels docked along that stretch,” he said in a statement to the Daily News. “We can’t have unrestricted foot traffic in the middle of a busy harbor. We need a gated entrance for private guests and for the new marina’s operations.”

Smith formally requested that the council approve the closure of the walkway in a letter submitted on July 22. He argued that the proposed change was consistent with the waterfront’s commercial nature and would not impede overall public access, as a new, private pathway would be constructed to reach the harbor.

The Council’s Decision

The council’s decision, reached by a 4‑1 vote, relied heavily on state law. City Councilwoman Lisa Torres, who led the debate, said, “The law is clear: public waterfronts cannot be turned into private lanes. The community’s access to the harbor is not a privilege; it’s a statutory right.”

The lone dissenting vote came from Councilmember Mark Reynolds, who suggested that the council could negotiate a compromise by requiring a private gate that opens for a few hours daily.

Councilwoman Torres clarified that the city will not allow any alteration that would restrict the trail’s public use. “We can explore other options, such as a partial closure of the trail during certain hours or a safety buffer zone that does not block access entirely,” she said.

The council also agreed to hold a public hearing on September 25, inviting residents, businesses, and state officials to discuss the shipyard’s redevelopment plan. The hearing will allow the city to examine the potential impact on public access and to enforce the Waterfront Access Act.

Legal and Community Context

The decision comes at a time when Maine’s municipalities are revisiting waterfront development. In 2023, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection issued a new set of guidelines requiring developers to maintain at least 10 feet of continuous public access along any shoreline they touch. The guidelines were adopted in 2024 after a series of lawsuits threatened to curtail public access on several Maine rivers.

Belfast residents have historically been supportive of the shipyard’s redevelopment, seeing it as a chance to rejuvenate a blighted area. But many also fear that the new construction would reduce the community’s access to the harbor. “We’ve walked this trail for generations,” said longtime resident Marjorie Henderson. “It’s part of our identity. We can’t lose that.”

The shipyard’s new owner, meanwhile, remains open to negotiations. In a subsequent interview with the Daily News on September 9, Smith said, “We’re willing to talk about how we can integrate a pedestrian pathway or a safe crossing that allows the public to enjoy the harbor while also protecting the safety of our operations.”

What This Means for Belfast

The council’s decision is a clear affirmation of Maine’s public‑waterfront principles, and it sets a precedent for other towns with similar disputes. For Belfast, it means that the waterfront walkway will remain open to the public for the foreseeable future, with any development that impacts it subject to state oversight.

The public hearing scheduled for September 25 will provide a forum for the community to weigh in on how best to balance private development and public enjoyment. City officials have indicated that the council will work closely with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to ensure any future projects comply with the Waterfront Access Act.

As the city looks to the future, the debate underscores a broader question: how can small towns like Belfast preserve the open‑access heritage that defines them while still welcoming economic development? For now, the answer seems to lie in collaboration and compliance with state law, keeping the waterfront walkway open for the next generation of Bangor’s residents and visitors.


Read the Full Bangor Daily News Article at:
[ https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/09/10/midcoast/midcoast-government/new-front-street-shipyard-owner-couldnt-cut-public-access-belfast-waterfront-walkway/ ]