Planning board begins discussing potential marijuana ordinance

Mon, 06/26/2017 - 11:30am

Should Boothbay’s marijuana ordinance allow retail sales? That question is before the Planning Board. Members began discussing an outline June 21 regarding possible ordinance topics for legalized marijuana when Chairman Alan Bellows said, “The first question we should ask is whether it should be prohibited.”

The board is working toward drafting an ordinance for voters to consider in November. Bellows recommended several areas of discussion – including zoning changes, outdoor cultivation and rental growing spaces for personal use – as possible topics for a workshop the next day. He asked other members to forward suggestions. 

In other action, the board voted unanimously to approve a Trevett resident’s request to combine two lots. Applicant Brenda Blake wanted to combine her two lots on 21 and 23 Crow Point Lane. The new parcel will be a single, 12-acre lot. The property is in a special residential zone and shoreland overlay.

The board tabled a second application. James and Mary Duffy of Flemington, New Jersey applied to construct a float for their seasonal property at 420 Barter’s Island Road.  Neither the Duffys nor their consultant attended the meeting. 

The board received a favorable response to the Duffys’ request from the harbor master. But the board hasn’t received Department of Environmental Protection or Army Corps of Engineers approval. The couple’s application asks to construct a pressure-treated wooden 4-foot by 6-foot access platform, a 3-foot by 14-foot access stairs, a 6-foot by 12-foot pier, an aluminum 3-foot by 30-foot ramp, and a 110-foot by 20-foot pressure-treated wooden float. 

The board will meet next at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 19 in the municipal building.