Town of Edgecomb

Planning board requests more info from three applicants

Sat, 07/21/2018 - 8:30am

The next Edgecomb Planning Board agenda will look a lot like the July 19 one as three applications were either tabled or withdrawn. The board reviewed three site plan applications, but all three lacked information. All three applicants promised to resubmit applications with requested materials in time for the next meeting.

The board tabled Alesia Norling’s application to expand her living space and dog day care business at 144 Middle Road and the application from Ring Point, LLC., an oyster farm on Ring Point Road, a request to build a 1.5-story home with three bedrooms and a two-car garage.

Consultant Mike White withdrew his clients Rob and Abby Dunlap's application to build a single family dwelling on their Shore Road property.

Norling wants to add a small building close to her dog kennel for more capacity for overnight dog boarding. She told the board her plans include more “overnight boarding, less daycare.” Norling lives at the business part-time, but plans to live there on a more regular basis. The board requested Norling provide all information in her original application before the board reviews her request.

Architect Tor Glendinning, owner of 44 Degrees North, represented Ring Point in its proposal to add a residence to the property which already includes two structures. The 10.75-acre parcel has a barn and another building. Both are used in the oyster processing business and include a bathroom. As proposed, the house would connect to the septic system servicing the two current structures.

The board requested more information about the system’s 450-gallon capacity. “I think it can handle it. We just need to see the hard numbers,” board member David Nutt said.

White began his site plan review by asking for a variance. The Dunlaps sought approval for a septic system on an undersized Shore Road lot. White included a letter from former Code Enforcement Officer Stan Waltz stating the lot “was buildable” and requested a variance. The board informed him the zoning board of appeals granted variances. The planning board also requested proof the plot existed prior to 1975 and retained grandfathered status.

White declined the board’s offer to start the variance process by denying the application. Instead, he asked for more time. “I’d like to take another shot at this. I will bring in the requested information,” he said.

After hearing from all three site plan review applicants, who promised to return in two weeks, board member Barb Gibson said "We can save this agenda and use it next time.”

In other action, Nutt requested an update on a converted River Road bait shack becoming a rental vacation cottage. In March, the board asked Waltz to investigate how a permit approved for repairs to a 50-year-plus old bait shack resulted in a vacation cottage.

The property is owned by Glidden Point Oyster Co. at 637 River Road.  Several years ago, Ryan McPherson bought the business and received a building permit.

The board received a complaint about the cottage being located inside the 75-foot shoreland zone. One board member also reported seeing it advertised on Airbnb’s site.

In April, Ken Vinyl became the town’s new CEO. Shortly afterwards, he went on medical leave. Prior to his illness, Vinyl spoke to the owner who intends to submit an application. “He told me he’d come back with a grand plan,” Vinyl said.

The board also nominated Rebecca Graham and Barry Hathorne as Ordinance Review Committee members.

The board will meet next at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2 in the municipal building.