On Thursday, March 7, the Edgecomb planning board approved Ben Ellinwood’s request to create a retaining wall at the Rock Solid storage facility at 380 Atlantic Highway.

Ellinwood said his future plans include a new building at the site, but at Thursday’s meeting he was seeking approval for only the retaining wall. He estimated the wall will be 200 feet long, 5 feet tall and 8 feet deep. Approximately 250 yards of earth will be moved when the wall is built this summer.

Ellinwood explained that because the property is a storage facility, the number of cars entering the property is not a concern to the Maine Department of Transportation. According to state standards, a minimum allowable sight distance has been determined for access onto all state highways and Route 1 is a state highway.

Board members discussed whether or not a retaining wall is considered a structure under Edgecomb’s ordinances. Jack French suggested the request be approved under the town’s earth-moving provision and the board unanimously agreed. Ellinwood will return to a future planning board meeting for approval of any other structures.