The Damariscotta Appeals Board voted to uphold the planning board’s decision to require Maine-ly Pawn to plant 11 trees during a meeting the morning of Thursday, Aug. 11.
The appeal was filed regarding conditions the Damariscotta Planning Board placed on a permit for Maine-ly Pawn owner Mark Hoffman to store merchandise outside the business at 535 Main St.
After several months of discussion between Hoffman and the town, the planning board unanimously approved Hoffman’s application for the permit in June.
The board’s approval includes three conditions. Hoffman is required to plant 11 arborvitae trees, each at least 5 feet tall, inside an existing split-rail fence with 6 feet between the trees. Once the trees are planted, a plywood fence at the site is to be removed.
All conditions of the approval were to be met within 30 days of the board’s decision.
According to the application, Hoffman sought the appeal due to the board’s requirement for 11 of the evergreen trees, writing that the requirement is “ridiculous, overkill, discriminatory, and unreasonable.”
Appeals board member Doug Morton said he questioned whether the plantings would cause an undue burden on Hoffman and the business. Morton said he researched the cost of 11 arborvitae at a local nursery and found they would cost about $100 each, for a total of $1,100.
Hoffman said he isn’t concerned about how much the trees will cost.
“This is not a monetary issue,” Hoffman said. “It’s too many shrubs. We’re going to end up with an impenetrable wall.”
Damariscotta Town Planner Tony Dater said Hoffman could return to the planning board to request an amendment to the permit.
Hoffman also said there are other businesses in town that have more road frontage than Maine-ly Pawn and less screening.
After 15 minutes of discussion, the board unanimously voted to uphold the planning board’s decision. If Hoffman intends to store merchandise outside, he will need to comply with the terms of the permit, including the removal of the plywood fence.
Hoffman could also choose not to store goods outside, in which case he would not have to complete the plantings and the fence could remain, Damariscotta Code Enforcement Officer Stan Waltz said.
