The Damariscotta Board of Selectmen upheld its decision to deny Inn Along the Way tax-exempt status for a portion of its 31-acre property Wednesday, July 20.
The board previously denied the nonprofit’s application for tax-exempt status for its land and property May 4. Inn Along the Way plans to build an elder community on the property, which it purchased in December 2015.
The nonprofit’s plans for the property include building 12 environmentally friendly homes for older adults and elders, as well as respite cottages, a small inn, an art center, a tea room, a farm stand, and a cafe.
In a note to the board, Damariscotta Assessors’ Agent Jurate Barnes recommended against the exemption for fiscal year 2017, as Inn Along the Way remains in the conceptual stage of the project and has primarily engaged in fundraising.
The board discussed Inn Along the Way’s request for reconsideration on July 20. After doing additional research, Barnes said she still recommended the request be denied.
“This is one of those situations where we don’t know … how it’s going to flesh out,” Barnes said. “At the moment, in my opinion, there is not an established use to make a determination that it’s a valid exemption.”
Inn Along the Way Inc. President Sherry Flint said the nonprofit has already started using the property, by hosting a memorial service, providing support for young mothers caring for their aging parents, and opening portions of the property to the public for use as hiking and walking trails.
“The mission of Inn Along the Way is to support and enrich the lives of those in the community, with an emphasis on elders and those who care for them, through environmental education, the arts, and gentle companioning,” Flint said. “We have been using the property for some of those things already.”
The board unanimously voted against reconsidering the request.
Barnes said the nonprofit could reapply for tax-exempt status for the property next year.
