The Boothbay Region Water District is rethinking plans to harvest timber and clean out dead and dying red pine trees along its Route 27 property. The Water District considered a timber harvest behind its offices, removing as many as 127 trees deemed as potential safety hazards located along the Adams Pond property.

The property has never been thinned or cut, according to Boothbay Region Water District watershed program manager Sue Mello. She told the planning board on Jan. 21 that the water district received an opinion from a local forester that the vegetation within the watershed threatened Adams Pond.

But after further consideration, the water district wants to take a more conservative approach to managing its property. Mello told the planning board that the water district has decided against a timber harvest and wants the town’s input on whether the red pine trees pose a significant safety hazard.

Mello told the board that the district was surprised at the number of trees marked as potential safety hazards by the local forester.

“We don’t see this as being something needed to be done right away. There isn’t any risk in stepping back and taking a more conservative approach,” Mello said. “Before we submit an application we’d like Dan (Bryer) to take a look to see if it is a safety hazard.”

As the town’s code enforcement officer, Bryer agreed to see if the trees posed a safety hazard as defined by the town’s ordinance and state Department of Environmental Protection guidelines. He also proposed having two state foresters provide their input on potential hazards posed by the dead and dying trees.

He sent an email last week requesting state foresters Morten Moesswilde and Keith Kanoti come to Boothbay on Feb. 9 to assess the risk. So far, the Maine Forest Service hasn’t responded to the request.

The district is waiting to hear the town’s opinion prior to submitting an application.

If the two state foresters come to Boothbay on Feb. 9, the planning board hopes to address another topic. The board wants to  discuss the benefits of changing the town’s designation under the Statewide Standards for Timber Harvesting and Related Activities in Shoreland Areas. 

The Maine Forest Services provides municipalities three options for regulating timber harvests in shoreland zone areas. The state offers assistance in enforcing regulations for Option One and Two municipalities. Option Three towns — like Boothbay — don’t receive any assistance.

The planning board wants to discuss the possible benefits about becoming an Option One or Two town. The board wants to discuss their options during a Feb. 9 ordinance review workshop.

The workshop also includes a discussions about possible changes to the town’s land use ordinances. The board began a discussion on Jan. 21 regarding build-able area restrictions. The town’s ordinance is more restrictive than the state’s.

Planning board member Michael Tomacelli proposed aligning the town’s with the less restrictive state DEP’s standards. The DEP allows land owners to use a property’s walkways, rock ledge and utility structures to calculate build-able area. Tomacelli believes the state standards provide land owners with more options to develop their property. 

The board also plans to discuss a proposed ordinance regarding cell tower placement. 

The workshop begins at 6 p.m., on Monday, Feb. 9 in the municipal room.