The Boothbay Planning Board Nov. 20 heard a pre-application from Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens for constructing a horticulture and plant science center. The proposal includes a 10,770 square foot administrative and laboratory building connected to a 4,240 square foot head house, two 6,080 square foot greenhouses, a 6,000 square foot storage building, three 2,880 square foot hoop house and several outdoor planting areas. In total, the project encompasses 41,810 square feet.

President and Chief Executive Officer Gretchen Ostherr described the proposal as providing "homes" to their plant science and horticultural teams. "We've outgrown our current space and have no laboratory space," she said. "We can do field research, but none in the labs. This expansion will help us grow which includes hiring eight to 12 more people over the next three years."

Ostherr added the new research facilities would study climate change impact on Maine plants. New facilities also include a seed bank and herbarium. "We will store plant seeds of all Maine species so if they ever go extinct, we will have materials to restore them," she said. 

Ostherr told the board CMBG hopes to begin the project in the spring of 2025 with completion expected by October 2026. 

Also Nov. 20, the board conditionally approved Boothbay Sea and Science Center's application to replace an 84-foot by 24-foot recreational pier. The only change is the pier will be four feet higher.

Tim Forrester is the director of coastal resources of Flycatcher, Inc. in Yarmouth. He represented BSSC as a consultant.  He told the board this proposal would rebuild a dock in disrepair. "It was cobbled together to operate last summer, but now it'sunsafe. It needs to be taken down immediately and rebuilt," he said. 

Summer resident Rob Whitten spoke on behalf of the project. Whitten has lived in a Murray Hill Road cottage with his family for 54 years. "My grandchildren have attended the BSSC and I favor the continued accessiblity of this piece of property," he said. "I really think the center is marvelous due to the science, research and education it provides."

Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry has a comment period open until Nov. 28. The board based its lone condition on not receiving any negative comments in regards to the project. "If we get any negative response from the Department of Agriculture, I will stop any progress on the property and bring it back to the board," Code Enforcement Officer Dan Feeney said.

The center is at 12 Carter Road and in the East Boothbay Village District and shoreland overlay zone.

The board meets next at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18.