During the Nov. 16 Wiscasset Selectmen meeting, the board accepted a Special Amusement Permit application for both a country music festival and the return of Oxxfest, a daylong rock concert which drew roughly 10,000 people to the Wiscasset racetrack last July.
In accepting the application, the selectmen cleared the way for a public hearing on the proposed events Tues., Dec. 7.
The board has requested that racetrack owner Douglas White have a permit in place 90 days before a scheduled event to adequately prepare the area for the surge of visitors.
“This is basically a safeguard in case you fall through, which is hypothetical. You have done most of the necessary paperwork up to this point but there are a few things left to do,” said Town Manager Laurie Smith.
White has proposed a series of events for the racetrack over the summer but because of contractual requirements from promoters, needs approval from the town to proceed.
Smith explained many of the business signs are technically illegal, owing to an overturned ordinance in the 1990s.
“I urge the selectmen to instruct the planning committee on how to proceed,” said Smith.
The board also authorized a bidding process on a distressed property at 182 Alna Rd. and appointed both morning and evening ballot clerks for the Tues., Dec. 7 special town meeting.
Selectmen are scheduled to meet next on Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.
