On Aug. 26, the Boothbay Board of Appeals didn’t say yes, but didn’t say no, either, to a proposed Murray Hill home expansion project. Instead, the three-person panel voted unanimously to send a New Vineyard couple’s application back to the planning board for another review. 

On May 15, the planning board rejected Marcia Rowland’s and Suzanne Adams’ application to add a 35 foot by 10 foot deck on the home’s east side along with interior renovations and shoring up structural support. The board approved interior renovations and shoring up structural support, but denied allowing a deck, saying it violated a municipal ordinance on buildable area requirements inside the 75 foot setback in the shoreland zone.

After appeals board members reviewed all the evidence, they concluded there was adequate buildable area on the lot, but the deck’s location on the east side violated a municipal ordinance. So the board consulted with the applicants about resubmitting an application with the deck located away from the shoreland zone. The couple agreed. “This will be a sweet little house now with a sweet little addition,” said Adams.

The couple will resubmit their application with proposed changes recommended by the appeals board. The planning board will review the revised application at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18.