The Boothbay Harbor planning board Dec. 9 approved Boothbay Harbor Maritime Foundation's plans to renovate Carter's Wharf. BRMF President Deanne Tibbetts and Gartley and Dorsky Engineering and Surveying President William Gartley presented the project a second time after it was tabled Nov. 12 due to a pending permit with Department of Environmental Protection.

“Other than getting that DEP permit in hand, nothing else has changed,” Gartley said.

After the board found the application complete, vice chair Chris Swanson suggested a public hearing for due diligence. Swanson said the development is of public interest and because the applicants are not in a rush to begin the project, a hearing could not hurt. “I think we'd be on safer grounds to have a public hearing for this application … The public can offer information concerning the proposed development activity (whereas) during a regular review ... the public has no right to present information either for or against or different opinions.”

All other board members vocally opposed the suggestion: Chair Tom Churchill noted minimal attendance at the Nov. 12 meeting and in the evening’s public Zoom session; alternate Jon Dunsford said while projects like the East Side Waterfront Park have gotten broad interest, Carter’s Wharf has had the interest of the local fishing community for many years; Margaret Perritt said unless the town can find a creative way to involve the public via one-on-one review of the plans, a public hearing would require a public gathering which would be ill-advised in a pandemic; Code Enforcement Officer Geoff Smith added there have been no inquiries into the project outside of the planning board and applicants.

Member Bill Hamblen said a hearing would not be necessary since there has already been one meeting and the application is likely the most complete the board has ever seen. “I just haven't seen the crying public interest that would require a public hearing for this and, finally, all our meetings are open to the public and although the public does not necessarily have a right to comment, we as a board almost always ask for public input and comment. So there has been that opportunity.”

Swanson’s motion for a hearing failed with no second.

After discussion on potential disruptions to Atlantic Avenue  traffic due to large truck maneuverings, the board approved the application unanimously with three conditions: a waiver of requirements to separate driveways a minimum of 75 feet away from intersections; moving the roadside business sign out of the public right of way and onto the applicant's property; and official planning board approval is given upon select board approval of the wharves and weirs portion of the application.