2012 Growth Planning Committee Kennebunkport. The More you Know...
The economy of Kennebunkport is strong, growing and diverse, and is dependent upon the property tax income from single family residences.
Many of the challenges facing our community are somewhat mitigated by this strong revenue source and yet the balance and character of this community depend upon a much more diverse and less linear source of income. Preserving and maintaining the value of our residential community will only help to bolster the health of our tourist industry, service providers, and trades and fishing community. Conversely, a strong tourism industry will serve to enhance the value of residential property in town.
Our need to maintain this community as one of full services is a challenge that can be met with fiscal posturing or visioning for the future. Social services, an elementary school, zoning and building codes that promote integration of local business into residences, infrastructure expansion, open space, low income housing and low impact linking of all our neighborhoods are topics that require pro-active planning in order to maintain a character to the community that will attract growth and allow diversity to flourish. The current value of Kennebunkport approaches the two billion dollar mark in the year 2011! The cost and responsibility of maintaining what we have and what we want have never been easy nor has the community resisted spending reserves to guarantee a future town character and balance between commercial and residential interests.
A. Role of Tourism
Kennebunkport is unique in that it attracts many different types of visitors who want to spend time here in a variety of ways, and it is important to distinguish between these various types. Conceptually, thevisitors might be arranged in a spectrum labeled “Permanent” at one end and “Transient” at the other. Starting at the “Permanent” end, we would find those who own property in Kennebunkport and spend every summer here, and those who come and spend the entire summer, but in rented quarters. Next, would be visitors who spend decreasing periods of time in a variety of 90

accommodations. At the “Transient” end of the spectrum are the “day-trippers” who come to Kennebunkport in their personal vehicles or tour buses and spend a few hours in town but do not spend the night. The many seasonal visitors add to the traffic congestion experienced during the warmer months of the year.
A community that accommodates the impacts of tourism by improving its infrastructure (police, fire, public works, roads, and parking) cannot help but provide in many ways for the overall well-being of the town.
B. Current and Future Trends
Kennebunkport is already an attractive haven for retirees. As data in this chapter shows, people 65 years of age or older made up 28% of the town’s population in 2010, a figure higher than any of the surrounding towns, the county, the state, or the U.S. In addition, the actual number of retirees here may be higher for much of the year, since many retirees spend nearly half the year in Kennebunkport, but still claim legal residence in Florida or some other southern state. The lure of Kennebunkport as a place of retirement of former summer visitors is quite understandable and a market for the growth of this population requires no additional promotion. There are a number of health facilities, social activities, and recreational centers in neighboring communities that specialize in services that appeal to this age group.
Home-based businesses tend to be growing statewide. While little data exists to substantiate this claim it is understood that home based industries help to diversify and balance a local economy and community. Between 2001 and 2010 nine home occupations have been granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals.