The Boothbay Harbor Planning Board welcomed its new second alternate, Lee Corbin, June 14. Corbin was offered the capacity to vote due to board member John Hochstein’s absence, but waived it to the board’s first alternate Jon Dunsford, as it was only her first meeting.

Under new business, the board took up three applications. The first concerned parking arrangements and living quarters for employees at 58 School Street. The board passed the proposal unanimously on two conditions: that, per the applicant’s request, parking arrangements will be waived until deemed necessary by the code enforcement officer and an engineer will have to review drainage for it.

The second application was a site plan review for pickleball and basketball courts. The proposed area -- formerly two tennis courts on Route 27 near Boothbay Region High School -- is expected to reduce parking from 35 to 28 spaces, and increase impermeable ground cover by over 5,000 square feet. Tho town got Department of Environmental Protection permits for bio-retention cells to manage drainage and storm water runoff.

After reviewing the proposed plans, all members of the board immediately found concern. “What’s going to prevent a pickleball from rolling out onto Townsend Avenue?” asked Thomas Churchill, board chair.

“The landscaping plan was too specific for the select board, so they voted it down,” said Lauren Stockwell, speaking on the town’s behalf. As Stockwell reviewed the site plans and former landscaping plans with board members, they, too, agreed that between the cost and specificity of the landscaping— in addition to the thin cover between the courts and the road— the application could not pass as it stands.

“I think the only thing that will work is fencing,” said Chris Swanson, board member.

“I hate chain link fencing,” Churchill said.

William Hamblen, vice chair, also added, “Fences don’t stop a hundred percent of balls anyway.”

Considering that the BRHS campus is essentially the gateway, the first thing people see when they drive into Boothbay Harbor, the board agreed a fence might send the wrong message. After more discussion on the merits of shrubbery and tree lines, the board tabled the vote until the next meeting.

The town is expected to return with a landscape plan. The site plan review is required and must be passed before the project can move forward.

The third and final application was a short and happy decision. Steven and Lori Reynolds, the new homeowners of 8 Summit Road, plan to demolish the structure and rebuild on the original foundation which does not conform to town codes. After discussing the difficulties of laying a new foundation due to the geography, the board approved the application unanimously.

Before adjourning the meeting, the board discussed its role in the impending decisions on voting options for the public in November on the subject of marijuana.

“What is the role?” asked Churchill.

“Well, it starts with you,” said Geoff Smith, code enforcement officer. Smith said the board would draft the ordinances, so it needs to be aware of what people want exactly.

The board is now considering making a commitment to dedicate the ends of meetings to ordinance discussion and the like, so members of the public may voice their support or concerns.