The Maine Department of Environmental Protection ruled two recent Boothbay expansion projects comply with state regulations. On July 26, DEP officials inspected Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and Boothbay Harbor Country Club. The visits were routine, to check if both projects met state regulations. 

The inspections involved department licenses and permanent stabilization. Environmental Specialist Lucien Langlois of the DEP’s Land Bureau reported in an Aug.2 email response to the Boothbay Register, “as of this date, both sites are in compliance and stable.".

Boothbay Code Enforcement Officer Jason Lorrain reported DEP officials requested more vegetation in small areas of each development, but otherwise, no violations were found in either location. “Certain small areas require more vegetation for beefing up stabilization, but other than that both are in compliance which eliminates the need for a third party inspection.”

Lorrain expects CMBG and country club officials will begin some stabilization work now, and seed and mulch sections in the fall. Lorrain described the stabilization procedures as adding more ground cover such as grass. In the meantime, DEP officials recommended erosion control mulch until vegetation takes root.

CMBG’s project is the first phase of its $30 million-plus expansion. Phase One began in April 2017 and includes constructing a new visitors center, gift shop, horticultural center, conservatory and additional gardens. The project is part of CMBG’s 20-year master plan to accommodate a growth in visitors.

In May 2018, the country club began phase two of its expansion project constructing a luxury fitness pavilion. The project features an 1,800 square foot fitness room with Cybex equipment, two tennis courts with viewing areas, two pickle ball courts, a heated salt water pool, and a 12-person hot tub overlooking the pool.

The expansion also includes a spa for providing massages, facials, pedicures and manicures and a hair styling salon.