Cook’s Landing seeks more seating, parking

Tue, 05/21/2019 - 7:15am

    On Thursday, May 15, Edgecomb’s planning board reviewed Cindy Landry’s plan for additional parking and seating at her Cook’s Landing business.

    Landry explained the bar and grille has seating capacity for 29, but will expand to 39 indoor seats under the provisions of its existing liquor license. She told the board she expects to add six tables to the porch area. Landry also sought guidance from the board about increasing the current 21 parking spaces at the restaurant by filling in an adjacent area.  “I’m trying to be compliant,” she told the board.

    Members reviewed the existing parking area with Landry and said she would need to get a fill permit to expand it. Chair Barry Hathorne told Landry, “You could have 50 spaces if you meet the requirements.”

    The Route 27 business describes itself as a pizza restaurant serving comfort food. Landry told the Boothbay Register by phone that she will request a fill permit for the parking area in the near future.

    Ben Ellinwood, owner of Rock Solid Storage, reviewed the site plan for more buildings at the 8.2-acre lot on Route 1. Ellinwood was accompanied by architect George Parker, who said the business’s long term plan is to have three more buildings. The first one will be 20 feet by 230 feet. In a followup interview, Parker explained the plan is currently being reviewed by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to see if it requires a permit under the storm water management provisions. Depending on when DEP approval is received, construction on the first building could begin this summer.

    Lisa Brown, whose property is adjacent to the business, attended the meeting with Jeff Honings who expressed concerns about the height of the proposed building. Ellinwood explained that the existing building is 10.8 feet tall and the new building would be 8 inches taller.  

    The board gave consent for the additional buildings, pending approval from the DEP.