It was a change of plans April 15 for an East Boothbay couple's proposal to stabilize the shoreline and repair a sea wall. Martha Simpson and Robert Jacobs received planning board approval for their project in January. But in March, the appeals board remanded the decision back to the planning board for clarification.

It seems the planning board's decision was unclear regarding how the applicant would gain access to the property. Simpson and Jacobs had a right-of-way to fix a 40-foot section of the sea wall, but the planning board's original decision didn't provide access through abutters' Nancy and Michael Henderek's property.

March 18, approval was remanded back to the planning board.

April 15, Kipp Farrin, on behalf of his clients Simpson and Jacobs, proposed an alternate plan. He proposed all work would enter from the property's east side and bypass the Hendereks' land. The proposal was well-received by the Hendereks, who participated in the hearing by phone. Lawyer Jonathon Pottle attended the meeting as the Hendereks' representative. Pottle said, "It was a positive development."

The Boothbay Planning Board provided conditional approval of the amended proposal by requiring the applicant receive permission from the east side property owner: the town of Boothbay. The Simpson-Jacobs application will now return to the appeals board for a Tuesday, May 5 hearing on the amended proposal.

The planning board approved two other proposals. Henry and Regine Poirer of Rockville, Maryland received conditional approval to amend the 1981 Tidewater Farms subdivision to create three additional lots. The road must be amended to require access to lots No. 2 and No. 3.

Nicholas Plumer of Boothbay Region Surveyors represented the couple. The property is on Peaceful Acres Drive,which is in a rural mixed use and watershed protection overlay zone.

Eben Court received approval to develop an Industrial Park lot for maritime-related commercial and contractor yard activities. He was represented by Alex Rioux of Rioux and Sons Construction, LLC. The property is in a manufacturing and business district.

The board also heard from Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens about its proposed expansion project. President Gretchen Ostherr discussed the project along with CMBG's intention to seek contract zoning. CMBG needs contract zoning to build its 45-foot high glass conservatory, which would exceed the current ordinance's 34 feet height limit. 

Ostherr said the project is still in the planning stages. "We are still in the design phase of this project. It's going to be a long process. The best-case scenario is starting construction in 2028, and finishing in 2030," she said.

A conservatory, which she described as a "45-foot glass house," and an adjacent butterfly and insect house are the major additions to the property. Prior to construction, a public vote is required to approve a contract zoning request.

The planning board meets next at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 20 in the conference room.