In a nearly three-hour meeting Jan.19, the Boothbay planning board approved all four applications. The board spent the most time on Heidi Cresta’s and Virginia Guerrero’s proposal for selective tree cutting to allow installation of a driveway, septic system, well and construction of a one-family dwelling. Their property is at 4 Waterfront Road North in the Highland Estates subdivision. The property is zoned as coastal and is part of the shoreland overlay district. 

The application for a non-conforming lot received unanimous conditional approval, but three abutters had concerns about the development within the resource protection district. Abutter Peter Southwick and his wife Jean Rosenberg bought their property in 1986 when stricter standards were in place on development within the resource protection district. Southwick explained the setback rule for him was 150 feet for development and he believed the proposed structure within 250 feet of the shoreline posed environment problems for his home and neighborhood. “I don’t see the wider benefit to the community to override this,” he said. “We were buyers 35 years ago, obeyed all the rules and restrictions, and the current plan doesn’t defend our right as abutters,” he said.

Southwick also questioned who would be responsible for damage caused by heavy machinery to the private road leading into Highfield Estates. “We already paid for that when we moved here. I didn’t think we should pay for it again,” he said. Board member Bruce Bowler responded since the road is not owned by the town then the property association would decide that matter. 

The board ruled in favor of Cresta and Guerrierro due to an exception approved by voters in November 2020 in the new zoning ordinances. Chairman Bill Wright said, “We can’t rule on what the ordinances were in the past. We can only rule on what they are now.”

Another abutter Bob Kaufman had concerns about tree removal’s impact on erosion and flooding. He also questioned whether any blasting would occur. Brian Cresta, who represented the applicants, responded a decision on blasting hadn’t been made.

The board placed three conditions on approval. The applicant must show drainage direction of surface water flow away from wetlands, add location of a culvert connecting an abutter and ditch relief culverts and plunge points, and show finished driveway dimensions. 

One other application was approved with conditions. The board unanimously conditionally approved Diana Kerr’s application to add an accessory use to her property. The accessory use is for a retail space in an attached barn (400 square feet). The primary use of a single-use family home remained unchanged. The lone condition is changing a gravel parking lot to a gravel driveway. Kerr lives in East Boothbay and the property is on Ocean Point Road. The property is zoned in the East Boothbay village district. 

The remaining two applicants had no conditions attached. The board reviewed William and Kathryn Kring’s tabled application from Nov. 17. The Krings proposed an addition to a pier and a 40-foot by 3.5-foot runway at a 45 degree angle. The property is at 17 Fox Loop, in a coastal and shoreland overlay district.

John Dix Druce Jr. received approval for a three-foot drift pilings at a pier. His property is on Kimballtown Road in Trevett and zoned in a coastal, shoreland overlay and resource protection district.

The board meets next at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16 in the municipal conference room.