The electric vehicle charging stations in the Meadow Mall parking lot may be delayed. The Boothbay Harbor Planning Board recently appealed to the town's Board of Appeals requesting the project's July 17 permit be vacated, and the matter be referred to them for review per town ordinance.  

In an Aug. 12 letter, the board expressed concern that the project at 185 Townsend Ave., constructed by Big Rib VII LLC, had been permitted by Code Enforcement Officer Dan Feeney without undergoing a site plan and shoreland zoning review by the board. They cited § 170-61 (A), which states that construction or placement of a new structure for commercial use requires a site plan review.  

The letter also notes the construction is adjacent to wetlands that border Highway 96 and Route 27 on the southwest corner of the Meadow Mall. The board believes the project should be evaluated for possible non-compliance with § 170- 101.10(B)(1) of the shoreland zoning ordinance, which requires that all new structures shall be set back at least 75 feet, horizontal distance, from the upland edge of a wetland.  

Aug. 7, Chair Merritt Blakeslee met with the code enforcement officer (CEO) to request that he issue a stop-work order. The board made the request again in the letter, setting a deadline of Aug. 14.

The document was first presented at an Aug. 12 planning board meeting and was unanimously approved. Since board member Lisa Toll is a project abutter, she recused herself. Alternate member Jim Mahoney took over.   

The CEO did not do as requested, so the request to the board of appeals was filed. A separate appeal was filed by Toll, according to Town Manager Julia Latter. The meeting is Sept. 21 at 6 p.m.

The Register has sought comment from Feeney, Toll and Main Street Parks, owner of the Meadow Mall.