The case of Damariscotta versus Maine-ly Pawn could be coming to an end on Monday.

The Damariscotta Planning Board is scheduled to have its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Sept. 14 in the town hall.

Maine-ly Pawn's application for a conditional use permit is on the agenda for the meeting, which is open to the public.

Maine-ly Pawn will again seek to obtain a conditional use permit that will allow the business to store its wares outside. Previously, the business has kept items outside; the store has been the recipient of warnings and letters from the town's code enforcement officer and lawyer.

The Damariscotta Planning Board voted down the proposal during its Monday, Aug. 31, public hearing with board chairman Jonathan Eaton saying the reason was that the application was incomplete. The application reportedly didn't have a detailed plan for the outdoor storage.

Maine-ly Pawn, which is owned by Mark Hoffman, garnered attention from former Damariscotta Selectman David Atwater when it was located next to Hannaford's on Main Street for having merchandise stored outside.

Eventually Hoffman applied for, and received, a conditional use permit that allowed the business to have goods outside so long as there was a fence, barrier or structure set up. Hoffman said he paid more than $10,000 for a tent to store the wares before Maine-ly Pawn moved up Main Street to its current location.

When the shop moved, its conditional use permit didn't; according to Code Enforcement Officer Stan Waltz, when the shop moved, it didn't apply for a permit to again store wares outside.

Waltz said at the Aug. 31 meeting that it was believed that there would be enough room to store the goods on the premises without having to keep them outside.

But Hoffman allegedly began storing items out front; he has said that his business would not be as successful if he was forced to keep his goods inside or even stashed behind a fence.

Hoffman said during an August interview and at the meeting Aug. 31 that he felt persecuted because he has “pawn” in the title of his shop name, and that the town has unfairly singled out his business. At the meeting Hoffman asked why other businesses were allowed to keep their wares outside, to which it was explained that some businesses had been “grandfathered-in” if they were in business before 1998.

Hoffman also said he was offended that planning board member Shari Sage allegedly suggested that he move his business to Waldoboro.

“To have a planning board member suggest that a successful business move out of town is unbelievable,” he said during the meeting. “Visual aides are an important part of selling, and I just don't understand why we're being singled out. Probably one percent of people don't like (the outside display) and for those who feel offended, I'm sorry you feel offended.”

Several neighbors spoke at the August meeting, and due to a town error, Hoffman had to send out several more notices to abutters.

Eaton said that for the planning board to grant the conditional use permit, Maine-ly Pawn would need a detailed plan that outlined where goods would be stored.

“This application is not complete — there's nothing, basically,” Eaton said during the meeting. “Without a plan, it's incomplete. Use a little thought, come up with something reasonable. But you have to have a plan if you want to get a permit.”

Maine-ly Pawn isn't the only business that the planning board will be focusing on, however.

The board will consider a draft of new sign ordinance following several complaints about sandwich boards downtown.

Sandwich boards aren't prohibited if they block a walkway; there have been complaints made by the selectmen about signs that are are physically far apart from the businesses they advertise.