Man hopes judge settles campground dispute

PHIPPSBURG – A Cumberland resident who claims an oversize campground is ruining his beachfront cottage is asking a judge to settle the dispute.

Bruce Poliquin, who owns a home on Wood Island, alleges the Ocean View Park campground shouldn’t be exempt from Phippsburg’s zoning regulations.

He planned to appeal the exemption to the Land Use and Shoreland regulation in Sagadahoc County Superior Court on Wednesday.

Poliquin contends the owners of Ocean View Park, Charles and Bernadette Konzelman, have illegally expanded the number of campsites since purchasing the five-acre property in the late 1970s.

The noise, dust pollution and behavior of campers has disturbed the enjoyment of his beachfront cottage, he said.

But a lawyer for the Konzelmans said the campground’s expansion was “grandfathered” under town ordinances, and claimed Poliquin is trying to hurt the Konzelmans’ business.

“The Konzelmans are hurt, angry and upset by this,” Therriault said. “It appears Mr. Poliquin wants to penalize the Konzelmans for their success.”

Poliquin’s chief complaint seems to be with the success of the Konzelmans’ business, which is booked months in advance, Therriault said.

The campground offers 48 beachfront sites that serve campers and RV owners.

The town’s Board of Appeals sided with the Konzelmans in the dispute when Poliquin requested a review of the exemption in March 2000. But they said they aren’t worried about the outcome.

“The town simply wants to get a decision. There’s no downside to losing the case, at least from our perspective,” said Mark Franco, the town’s attorney. “The town is like an innocent bystander.”