Wiscasset planning board

Gardiner Road solar project gets nod

Tue, 10/26/2021 - 8:45am

A Gardiner Road solar project was approved unanimously at Monday night’s planning board meeting over Zoom. Members of the board attended a site walk Oct. 20. Board member Al Cohen said he didn’t see any issues with the site and many of the neighbors were present at the site walk as well. The solar farm will be a 1.99 megawatt farm covering about 9.6 acres on the east side of Gardiner Road south of the intersection with Foye Road.

There were two public hearings Monday, one for the solar project and one for an amendment to the shoreland ordinance. Neither the board nor any members of the public had any comment during the hearings. Later in the meeting, the board approved the ordinance amendment and member Jackie Lowell said the changes are required by Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

Tristan Koehling, who has leased 762 Bath Road, the site of the former Miss Wiscasset Diner, attended for a pre-application meeting with the board about renovations and a site plan application approval for what he hopes will be The Route 1 Diner. Since the previous diner closed more than two years ago, a new site plan application must be approved by the board before Koehling can open.

Jenny Graham of Cozy Harbor Canvas also met with the board regarding her site plan application for a boat canvas and drapery workshop, retail use and showroom at 263 Bath Road. Graham was informed she needed a recent survey to add to the application before it could be approved.

The board meets next at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 via Zoom.