The Boothbay Planning Board has approved a change of use for the Boothbay Playhouse. During a special May 4 meeting, the board approved Compass Rose Events’ request for a retail event planning business. Compass Rose plans using the the residence for administrative offices and a sales call center. The second building is designated for storage, according to Compass Rose Chief Financial Officer Neal Jones.

The playhouse and residence are located on 267 and 275 Wiscasset Road along Route 27.

Compass Rose requested a special May meeting last month to meet its goal of moving from The Russell House in Boothbay Harbor to the Boothbay Playhouse by mid-May. Jones told the board in April the Boothbay Playhouse wouldn’t be used for hosting events.

In other actions, the board tabled a request by the Newell Family Trust for creating water access by adding a deck over existing lot coverage in the Shoreland Zone. The ordinance requires removing one of two sets of steps on the 256 Shore Road property in East Boothbay.

“They want to keep both sets so they’re in the process of re-thinking their plans,” said Code Enforcement Officer Art Dunlap.

The board also heard a pre-application hearing for Paula Ragsdale Arsenault’s and Bill Arsenault’s proposal to add a showcase window to their Sproul Lane business property. Bill Arsenault stores equipment for his plumbing business in the two-story building and Paula Ragsdale Arsenault has her artwork on the second floor, according to Dunlap.

“They want to put in a showcase window so all the people heading to the Botanical Gardens can see the artwork. The board told them they could probably work with them on their proposal,” Dunlap said.

The planning board will meet next at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18 in the municipal building.