The Boothbay Harbor Appeals Board remanded Boothbay Harbor Waterfront Preservation’s (BHWP) site plan back to the planning board for reconsideration Jan. 13. 

This decision comes after Boothbay Harbor homeowners Joseph and Jill Doyle filed an administrative appeal on a Nov. 17 planning board approval of a shoreland zoning permit for abutter BHWP. BHWP has been constructing waterfront greenspace at 65 Atlantic Ave. since October 2020. The Doyles previously lost an appeal on BHWP’s site plan revision. The second appeal is still in effect pending the planning board’s actions. 

The main cause for the remand was BHWP’s proposed parking lot which is within the 75-foot setback from the high tide line despite Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s assertions it must be outside the setback. The appeals board also motioned for clarification of permits as well as authorizing the planning board to consider any new evidence in its decision. 

“I think it's important for us to make sure projects have all necessary permitting in place and that we are being consistent with state regulations and local ordinances,” said Appeals Board Chair Wendy Wolf.

The meeting was held via Zoom with Wolf and members Rosemary Bourette, Lawrence Rebel and Ronald Cohen. The remand was unanimous. Attorney Joe Saviski of Perkins Thompson represented BHWP, Scott Anderson of Verrill Dana represented the Doyles and town attorney John Cunningham was there.