My husband and I decided to take advantage of the final glorious days of summer and kayak around Forest Lake. After our return, I opened up The Forecaster and read the headline “New Maine Turnpike exits among priorities for Cumberland council.” Imagine my surprise to learn that a “major priority” of the council is to have a new interchange that would “allow access to the Maine Turnpike from Forest Lake Road and Route 100”!

While I appreciate the council’s efforts to keep property taxes in check and understand the need for growing commercial development, I cannot begin to fathom a turnpike interchange anywhere on or near Forest Lake. We moved here specifically to get away from the hustle and bustle of traffic and commercial development.

In 2007 voters rejected a bid to purchase the property at 56 Forest Lake Road, and in turn, the idea to turn this parcel of land into a public boat launch. I hope residents who live on Forest Lake and the Forest Lake Association will voice adamant opposition to this new proposal. Citizens need to unite and send a strong message to town staff and the Town Council that this is not a plan that should be supported.

If voters thought that boat traffic would be detrimental to the health of Forest Lake and the viability of the loons and other wildlife that inhabit the area, consider what run-off from of an exponential increase in the volume of vehicle traffic would do to the water quality of the lake.

Sandra Gorsuch-Plummer
Cumberland