The plight of Maine-ly Pawn's outdoor storage will wait another two weeks.

The Damariscotta Planning Board agreed, 5-0, Monday, Aug. 31, that an application submitted by Maine-ly Pawn's Mark Hoffman was incomplete and that Hoffman would be allowed to return to the Monday, Sept. 14, meeting to seek a permit.

Hoffman was seeking a conditional use permit that would allow him to store and sell goods outside of his business, which is located t 535 Main Street in Damariscotta.

Planning board chairman Jonathan Eaton said the application submitted for the Aug. 31 meeting was lacking in a description of the plan, which would lead the board to call the application incomplete.

“We have to assume you have some sort of plan,” Eaton said to Hoffman at the opening of the meeting.

“I think if you drive by you will see what the plan is,” Hoffman said. “My plan is to sell items. We're simply open for business.”

Hoffman said he felt that people were unfairly targeting his business because it has “pawn” in the title. Hoffman added that he felt former town selectman David Atwater singled out his business while he was on the board. He said that one planning board member, Shari Sage, allegedly suggested he move his business to Waldoboro.

“To have a planning board member suggest that a successful business move out of town is unbelievable,” he said. “Visual aides are an important part of selling, and I just don't understand why we're being singled out. Probably one percent of people don't like (the outside display) and for those who feel offended, I'm sorry you feel offended.”

Corrone and Ruth Anne Bryant live nearby Maine-ly Pawn and said they disliked the display.

“It's a junkyard,” Ruth Anne said. “You moved into a nice neighborhood and you have besmirched it.”

Corrone Bryant said he understood the need to have goods outside, but said he didn't want to look at it.

“I live directly across the street (from Maine-ly Pawn), and we are not pleased,” he said. “I understand you need storage space.

“We are mainly concerned about rats. I know they come up from the lake and I saw them eating at my bird feeder and (the outdoor display) looks like it could harbor rats, mice and other varmints. I think it's wise to be concerned about safety.”

Code enforcement officer Stan Waltz said other businesses have been allowed to keep their wares outside due to the land use ordinance.

“Everything pre-1998 has been grandfathered in,” he said.

Waltz said that when Hoffman moved Maine-ly Pawn up the road he said he wouldn't need outdoor storage or sales. However, Waltz said, as the business grew, so too did the need to store items outside. Waltz also disagreed with Bryant by saying that there was nothing on the premises of Maine-ly Pawn that would draw in rats.

Eaton said Hoffman's chances of getting a conditional use permit would be greatly increased if the application he submitted had a detailed plan about where he would store his wares and how. Eaton said at the next meeting Hoffman should

“This application is not complete — there's nothing, basically,” Eaton said. “Without a plan, it's incomplete. Use a little thought, come up with something reasonable. But you have to have a plan if you want to get a permit.”