The Boothbay planning board wants to improve communication with the Maine Forest Service. The board is considering changing its standards for timber harvesting in shoreland areas to achieve that goal.

The board wants to explore the possible advantages for changing its designation in the Statewide Standards for Timber Harvesting and Related Activities in Shoreland Areas.

The Maine Forest Service provides organized municipalities three options for regulating timber harvesting in shoreland areas. The state offers assistance in enforcing regulations in Option One and Two municipalities. Option Three towns — like Boothbay — only receive state notification about a harvest.

“Basically, we’re on our own,” said Code Enforcement Officer Daniel Bryer.

The planning board will have Maine Forest Service representatives explain the various designations at a future meeting.

“We are just looking what the pros and cons might be,” Bryer said. “The change may result in getting more assistance from the state and (may) improve communication. Right now, we don’t know a lot about it. And we just want to learn more about the various standards.”

In 2013, the Maine Forest Service took over administration and enforcement of statewide standards for timber harvesting in shoreland zones. There are 174 Option One  and 75 Option Two municipalities, according to State Forestry and Management Director Donald J. Mansius. He reported that 85 percent of municipalities have selected either Option One or Two.

“A large majorities of those selected Option One,” Mansius said. “The benefits of Option One and Two are pretty clear. Municipalities can focus attention on development issues, and the Maine Forest service takes care of timber harvesting in shoreland regulations.”

As an Option Three town, the planning board is concerned the forest service isn’t fulfilling its obligations in notifying them about harvests in a timely fashion. Bryer told the board that state notification takes up to 5-6 weeks. He said the long time span is a problem because the harvest is usually over before being notified.

In other action, the board unanimously approved two conditional building permit requests. The board granted conditional approval for Matt Carter’s request to build a 16-foot by 30-foot storage platform. Carter, a lobsterman, owns a plot on 640 Ocean Point Road. He wants to build a shed to store his gear. Carter plans on connecting the storage platform with a 12-foot by 20-foot rope house for commercial fishing. This will connect to the existing pier with a 5-foot by 25-foot wooden walkway.

The permit will be granted following selectmen approval.

The second conditional approval was for an addition to a non-conforming property on 214 Back River Road. The board granted approval for Austin and Sarah McGuire’s request to add an additional bedroom and a garage. The second bedroom would increase the cottage’s volume by 30 percent.

The board approved the application pending a revised application, which included a re-vegetation plan. The plot currently is in non-compliance with the land use ordinance because it has a 115 square feet vegetation deficit.

The vegetation buffer is for erosion and sedimentary control. The McGuires plan to plant grass to meet the ordinance’s requirements.

Once the application is revised, the planning board will sign the building permit.

The board granted a Wharves and Weirs shoreland zoning permit for Vincent Lathbury and Susan Seymore. The siblings, who own property on opposite sides of Elbow Road South,  want to remove an existing dock and construct a common dock. An abutter would also use the dock, according to the sibling’s application.

The common dock consists of a pressurized wood 4- foot by 10-foot access platform, a 4- foot by 12-foot access stairs, and 6-foot by 48 pier, and a 3-foot by 40- foot ramp.

Mark Nordensen submitted the only application not approved. Nordensen wanted a small expansion for his cottage on 35 High Street. The cottage, built in 1905, is already a non-conforming structure. The planning board ruled it couldn’t approve the application unless he reduced the proposal by 150 square feet.

Nordensen withdrew his application after the board’s ruling.

The planning board is scheduled to meet next at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21 in the municipal room.