From left: Jon McGraw, of JM Automotive, and Bruce Benner, of Pro Body Works, discuss their plans to open a garage and small used car dealership with the Damariscotta Planning Board on Monday, June 5. (Maia Zewert photo)
The owners of JM Automotive, of Newcastle, and Pro Body Works, of Wiscasset, discussed their plans to bring a garage and small used car dealership to Damariscotta during the Damariscotta Planning Board’s meeting Monday, June 5.
Jon McGraw, of JM Automotive, and Bruce Benner, of Pro Body Works, plan to locate their businesses in one building measuring 50 feet by 80 feet. The building would be in front of Lily Brook Apartments, at 705 Main St. Benner owns the apartment complex.
The building would include two offices – one for JM Automotive and one for Benner’s dealership – as well as a restroom, according to a site plan. Benner would own the building and land, and McGraw would lease space for the garage, according to his wife and JM Automotive office manager Bobbie McGraw.
Like his Newcastle business, McGraw said the garage would service cars, trucks, and light-duty diesel vehicles. Customer parking would be on the side of the building along Lily Brook Drive, with overflow parking available on the other side of the driveway, according to the plan.
The used cars would be in front of the garage facing Main Street. The cars would be set back from the road as required in the ordinance, McGraw said.
Planning board member Shari Sage asked if the businesses would have 24-hour lighting and if abutters had been notified of the plans. To both questions, McGraw answered no, but said he will notify the abutters when he submits a completed application to the town.
The Damariscotta Planning Board will hold its next meeting at the town office at 7 p.m., Monday, July 10.
