A 2011 Bates College graduate believes Edgecomb is a prime location for his new business venture. Finley Merrill is the founder of PilotHouse, a Boston-based recreational and facility services business looking to tap into the region’s untapped natural resource of undeveloped private property.

Merrill wants to rent luxurious portable units near the New England coastline. He is looking to partner with local landowners. Finley discussed his proposal with the Edgecomb planning board on Aug. 20. Besides Edgecomb, PilotHouse is considering various other sites, but Edgecomb is high on Merrill’s priority list.

“For one thing, it’s beautiful,” Merrill said. “It’s also an accessible area of Maine. It’s drivable from Boston and close to other spots. It’s also a prime spot because it’s a place where a lot of people want to visit.”

Merrill described his portable units as akin to a “fifth-wheel trailer.” The unit would be hauled by heavy pick-up truck to various locations. PilotHouse envisions the portables staying up to 120 days in New England during the summer, then moving to Georgia or Texas for the winter.

Once PilotHouse finds a suitable location, a prototype model would be built. Finley expects to build one unit this winter.

“It will be a pilot program the first year,” he said. “If it goes well, we’ll build more. We want the first unit to showcase the property.”

He expects to rent units for about $250 per night on average and compensate the host property owner at $1,000 per month.

Planning board chairman Jack French thought the concept was interesting.

“I think that’s a good idea. There are several people here who would probably be interested in this,” French said.

Finley discussed with the board how various land use ordinances pertained to his proposal. But the planning board wasn’t sure how the unique proposal fit into various sections of the land use ordinances.

“My first reaction is this proposal is ahead of its time,” said planning board member David Nutt. “But it also seems to be ahead of our planning board regulations.”

In other business, the board discussed the town’s website with Jarryl Larson. She is one of three website committee members appointed by the selectmen. The committee is charged with making recommendations for a new website. 

Larson is gathering information for an updated website construction bid. Her list includes the wants and needs of the town’s elected officials and department heads. A website consultant will use the information in submitting an quote.

French believes the website is a necessity because it’s often the public’s only source for information.

“People call the town office for information, but it’s only open two days and one night a week,” he said. “They need a place to go for information or applications when the town office is closed.”

The town’s current website is not functioning properly. The town’s website plate license expires in November, according to Larson. Town officials began considering a new website after the May town meeting. So there are no funds available in the budget for a new website. So once the plate license expires, it may require a special town meeting to fund a new website.  

The website committee previously received a quote for an estimated $3,000, according to Larson. The quote has expired so she is gathering information for a new quote. She will report her findings to both the selectmen and planning board.

The planning board will meet next at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3 in the municipal building.