The Boothbay Planning Board has submitted a list of recommended zoning amendments to be included on this year's town warrant.

The list includes many of the same items that were rejected by voters last November; however, the planning board has pared down the amendments and listed them out individually.

Last November, voters rejected 32 amendments that were packaged under one article called “miscellaneous zoning ordinances.” At this year's town meeting on May 5, Boothbay voters will be able to vote for most of the proposed amendments separately.

According to the planning board, there have been some slight changes made to the previous zoning amendments. The proposed sign ordinances were changed to reflect the current zoning ordinances, however the use of internally lit signs with changeable displays will be permitted under strict circumstances.

If voters approve the new amendments, internally lit signs will be only permitted at gas stations that display the price of fuel. The amendment states only alphabetical and numerical text will be allowed, and “no phasing, rolling, scrolling, flashing, streaming or blending” will be permitted.

The planning board has indicated that internally lit signs were written primarily for two businesses, T&D Variety and the Clipper Mart, which are both located on Route 27.

The proposed sign amendments aim to be more compliant with the state statutes. Boothbay’s current sign set back is 50 feet from the center-line of the road. 

When Bigelow Laboratory wanted to put up a sign at the entrance of the East Boothbay campus, the sign needed to be set back 50 feet from the center-line of the road, which was in very low visibility, so the planning board proposed that no sign be placed within 33 feet of the center-line of a standard 66 foot wide road instead. 

Other amendments

The planning board is again recommending an amendment that would eliminate driveways as structures, and an amendment that would allow resumption of a non-conforming use. The change would provide more leniency for grandfathered areas or structures that have been discontinued for a period up to two years instead of one.

Lastly, the planning board is proposing a resolution to allow commercial boatbuilding under the conditions of a home occupation. The amendment would change the definitions of commercial fishing and maritime activities and allow a limited boating building operation in a residential district under the restrictions of home occupation.

For the complete listing of the proposed amendments, read pages 47-75 of the attached document.