Boothbay Planning Board members want to visit the proposed location for a new spa building prior to granting approval. On March 17, the board tabled a PGC 5 application seeking to build a new Boothbay Harbor Country Club spa. Sebago Technics and Canal 5 Studio explained the limited liability corporation’s proposal as part of Phase 2 of the country club’s expansion plan. Sebago Technics and Canal 5 Studio presented PGC 5’s proposal but were unable to provide information on lot ownership and parking. The board ruled that whether the lot was owned by PGC 5 or another one of Paul Couloumbe’s LLCs was unclear. A 3 p.m. March 19 site visit was set to review parking.

The board will reconvene at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, prior to a regularly scheduled workshop, to vote on the application. During the March 17 meeting, an abutter voiced concerns about the expansion project’s planned blasting. James Farrin of Howard House told the board during the project’s Phase 1, ledge blasting resulted in significant damage to Howard House’s tree line on the shared northern boundary. He believed the proposed Phase 2 blasting would result in losing more trees. “We asking the blasting not occur so close to the property line. It was a real problem last time,” he said. “We have a nice tree line and lost a lot of trees, and are asking to maybe not have blasting go as deep and close to the property line.”

In other action, the board unanimously approved a Rocky Point Association application for removing one float and replacing it with another at the association’s Fox Loop Road location. President Doug Stahle explained the proposal as eliminating one 12-foot by 24-foot float and replacing it with a new 12-foot by 24-foot one. An added single-pile dolphin would secure the larger float, along with  a dinghy haul-off with one piling.

The planning board also approved two applications with conditions. Jamie Campbell is moving to Boothbay and building a home on Oak Hill Road. She wants to move her Boothbay Harbor salon into her new residence. Campbell sought a use application approval. The board approved it, if she provided a revised parking sketch. An abutter was opposed to the application. Nancy Peterson was concerned about a new business in the Coastal Residential and Shoreland Overlay zones. Peterson also complained about road conditions, and believed additional traffic would make it worse. Board Chairman William Wright responded, municipal ordinances allowed for limited commercial use. He also directed any road concern questions to the road commissioner. 

Ocean Point Road resident Diana Kerr received conditional approval for a change of use from a single family dwelling to a retail space for her attached barn. She is planning a retail shop selling fine crafts and home decor in her 440 square foot barn. Her shop will be open five days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an expectation for a soft opening around Windjammer Days. Her neighbor and business partner, Kathleen Jones, is a jeweler and is one of the local craftsmen who will sell their work in the new shop. “This is a seasonal shop with crafts made by local craftsmen. The impact will be minimal on neighbors, and we plan on operating from July until Columbus Day,” she said. 

The planning board told her she is allowed between two and 10 parking spaces. Kerr is also creating a space to keep customers from backing onto Route 96. Municipal ordinances prohibit parking in front of the business. Her approval is conditioned on providing a sketch approved by Code Enforcement Officer Jason Lorrain showing parking beside and behind the building and buffering neighbors’ view.

The board also heard two pre-applications. Andrew Page discussed his marine-related structure proposal of an accessory apartment on his Samoset Trail property. Nick Plummer of Boothbay Region Surveyors discussed his client’s proposal for adjusting a lot line and creating a new parcel within the Knickerbocker Road subdivision.