A plan seven years in the making for refurbishing Ocean Point Colony’s casino is a step closer to reality. At the Boothbay Planning Board's Jan. 16 meeting, Ocean Point Colony Trust discussed its proposal for renovating the structure built in 1905 and rebuilt in 1974 after a fire.

Ocean Point Trust President Matt Lindley told planning board members “the current structure was getting long in the tooth,” and no major renovations had occurred since the casino burned to the ground almost 44 years ago.

The trustees began planning a casino refurbishing in 2011 by holding town hall-style meetings and community workshops discussing best possible future uses of the building. In past years, the casino has typically been rented three to four times per season, according to the trustees. The casino is used regularly by community members for pancake breakfasts, chicken barbecues, children’s games and activities, arts and crafts, and Italian dinners. The trustees expect those activities to continue, but with a better designed casino.

“We’re planning on committing over $1 million to the project,” Lindley said. “We’ve spoken to the Congregational Church and Squirrel Island about their past fundraising projects, and we’re excited about moving forward and bringing this proposal forward.”

The trustees presented plans on how they perceive a redeveloped casino property would look. Plans call for demolishing the casino and building a new one.  A new casino’s size would remain the same, but its appearance would change. Lindley explained the new structure would look like it originally did over a century ago. “After the 1974 fire, the casino was rebuilt “hastily," and our plan is returning it to the handsome structure it once was.”

Inside, the casino would resemble its current set-up  of a kitchen, community space, storage room, reading room and a program director’s office. The biggest change would be adding a second bathroom. Maximum occupancy would remain at 295, which trustees reported they had never come close to reaching.

The three tennis courts would be reduced to two and replaced by two smaller multi-use courts for pickleball, basketball and a playground area. The complex is already a non-conforming structure and lot. Municipal ordinances allow revisions only if the changes don’t make the lot or structure more non-conforming. The Colony’s plans decrease lot coverage, but a planned move of the casino and tennis  courts closer to the road would not be permissible. To receive board approval, the trustees must present a plan that doesn’t violate setback provisions.

The trustees plan on submitting a formal application for board review in February. The  board meets next at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20 in Boothbay’s municipal conference room.