Boothbay Regional Development Corp. received conditional approval Oct. 16 for its affordable housing project on Butler Road.

The one condition is providing a performance guarantee bond to the town manager prior to receiving a building permit. BRDC Vice President Erin Cooperrider described the application as phase one, which builds 20 townhouse condominiums at 0 Butler Road. Five buildings with four units will likely be available for purchase next spring. Cooperrider told planning board members the corporation is targeting homebuyers making 75% to 125% of median household income or $63,250 to $101,250 per family.

While the planning board was unanimous in granting conditional approval, several Butler Road residents were unhappy with the decison. These residents attended previous planning and selectboard meetings voicing concerns about the project. Butler Road resident Todd Barter has been the most vocal in his opposition. He spoke to oppose the project and ask questions regarding the subdivison.

In previous meetings, he told town officials Butler Road wasn't the right location for such a large subdivision. During the Oct. 16 meeting, he harkened back to a statement at the previous selectmen's meeting. On Oct. 9, a selectman mentioned the town receiving a $200,000 payment from BRDC, for BRDC's share of a water and sewer project. 

Barter posed the question after a BRDC official responded "no"during the application's finding of fact portion, on if the corporation worked on the lot prior to application approval. Barter reported seeing dirt piles and heavy mahcinery on the plot prior to the planning board's decision. "Shouldn't there have been permits in place for that," he asked.

Cooperrider explained, BRDC participated in the recently completed Butler Road sewer and water expansion project, which is separate from the affordable housing project. Barter continued expressing his dissatisfaction with the project. "Still not happy with what I'm seeing as far as this being friendly to families. They're playing games with parking and traffic. This is going to impact our neighborhood quite a bit and I wonder how that will go, going forward with more applications," he said. "I'm not sure this has been really well planned out."

Cooperrider re-stated the housing application met all municipal ordinance requirements.

In other action, the planning board approved a recreational pier rebuild application stemming from the January 2024 storm. The property owners are Roger and Christine Vooght of Ocean Point Road. The property is in a residential district and shoreland overlay district. 

Allan K. Miller and Pamela J. Burke Living Trust represented by Stockwell Environmetal Consulting, Inc. received approval to repair shoreline with riprap and replace a recreational pier in East Boothbay destroyed during the January 2024 storm.. The property is in coastal residential and shoreland overlay districts.

Nell L. Tharpe received approval to replace a pier and elevate a boathouse damaged during the 2024 January storm. The property is in East Boothbay within East Boothbay Village District and the shoreland overlay district.

The board meets next at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20 in the conference room.