Vassalboro planners approve two applications, postpone another

by Mary Grow

Vassalboro planning board members had three projects on their Nov. 12 agenda. They spent as much time discussing how each fitted into town ordinances as on the merits.

They ended up disappointing one applicant, Vassalboro’s Public Works Department, represented by Brian Lajoie. Revision Energy did not expect a decision, so representative Annalise Kukor was satisfied. Sidereal Farm Brewery’s application for extended Sunday hours was approved.

“Look at that, we got one thing done tonight,” board chairman Virginia Brackett said.

The public works plan, discussed at select board meetings, is to add a pole barn for equipment storage on the Bog Road lot with the town garage and salt shed. Lajoie said it will be 50-by-100-feet, on sonotubes sunk into gravel. He hoped to have the groundwork done in the next couple weeks, with construction to start in March 2025.

An early question was whether the new building would be too close to a wetland. Lajoie said a state Department of Environmental Protection staffer had inspected and approved.

At the Nov. 12 meeting, planning board member Paul Mitnik questioned the need for board review. After a quarter-hour’s discussion of what types of buildings the ordinance covers, whether the term “expansion” is applicable and other ordinance issues, a consensus was reached: planning board review is required.

The review would be of a site review application. Public works had filed only a building permit application. Since planning board members had no application on which to act, the next question was whether any work could start immediately.

After more discussion board members decided until they acted, new codes officer Eric Currie could not issue a building permit, and without a building permit, work could not start.

Brackett postponed a decision to the Dec. 6 board meeting. Lajoie said unless the weather cooperated, groundwork will be put off until spring and the building contractor rescheduled.

Kukor was confirming information in a preliminary application for a 530-kilowatt solar installation on Kennebec Water District’s land on Route 32, just north of East Vassalboro village. The project is not commercial, she said; KWD will use all the power produced.

Board members had questions, but no objections. Kukor intends to submit a full application at the board’s January 2025 meeting.

At their June 4 meeting, planning board members approved an expansion plan for Sidereal Farm Brewery, at 37 Sidereal Way, off Cross Hill Road. At the Nov. 12 meeting, owner James D’Angelo and staff members asked to open the dining room at 9 a.m., instead of noon, on Sundays. The 8 p.m. Sunday closing time, and all other hours approved June 4, would remain the same.

After again consulting ordinance provisions, board members decided the request was for a minor change. The procedure was for the codes officer to write an approval and send it to the applicant and the planning board for board approval.

Rather than postponing the request, board members urged Currie, “Write it!” While D’Angelo summarized progress on other aspects of the expansion, Currie wrote a brief note authorizing the new hours. Board members approved it.

Sidereal staff said the 9 a.m. Sunday breakfasts will probably start Nov. 24, not Nov. 17.

In the only other business, board member Douglas Phillips asked Currie about activity at Ron’s Auto Parts, on Route 32. Currie had been to the business, preparing for reissuance of the annual junkyard permit, and been told the derelict-vehicle stockpile was being reduced. He said he would follow up.

The next regular Vassalboro planning board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday evening, Dec. 3.