Damariscotta residents quickly and unanimously approved permanent restrictions on where adult entertainment establishments can open during a special town meeting Wednesday, March 18.
Voters also approved a new harbor ordinance.
Moderator Don Means led the small crowd of voters through the meeting, with no discussion among the residents.
Voters unanimously approved land use ordinance amendments, which include the new regulations for adult entertainment establishments.
The regulations include a 1,500-foot buffer between an adult entertainment business and any church, school, park, day care facility, or recreational facility.
The buffer leaves 17 lots available for such establishments, all in the commercial area of Biscay Road and the commercial area adjacent to the intersection of Business Route 1 and Route 1, according to Damariscotta Town Manager Matt Lutkus.
A statement from town attorney Jennifer Villeneuve was read by Lutkus, giving examples of other towns in the country that have similar ordinances in place.
Voters also approved the repeal of the existing harbor ordinance and its replacement with a “harbor interlocal agreement” ordinance.
The new ordinance will allow Newcastle to administer dinghy permits, mooring permits, and parking permits for mooring owners for both towns. It will also combine the three-member Damariscotta and Newcastle harbor committees into one six-member committee, add the Sheepscot River as a fifth harbor district, add a provision for the floating pump-out station, and extend the time after which a mooring is considered abandoned from one to three years.
Article 4, which would amend the shellfish conservation ordinance for one town office to administer shellfish licenses, was tabled.
“I would like to table the proposed amendments until the two towns can work together to develop one singular ordinance,” Lutkus said.
The town voted to table the article until a May 6 meeting.