If there was a theme to the Monday, April 6 planning board meeting concerning a potential low-income housing development in Damariscotta, the theme was concern.

A room full of abutters and neighbors attended the meeting to air concerns about the potential Stepping Stone project on Blue Haven Lane.

Bill Howlett, founder and president of Stepping Stone, spoke with the board about a plan that could replace the former building on Blue Haven Lane with transitional housing.

While nothing has been finalized — there will be a site visit in the near future — Howlett supplied blueprints on Monday.

The plan would call for seven dwelling units, with six of those in the shape of small duplexes, Howlett said. The individual homes would be small (between 500 and 600 square feet) as they were designed for economy, Howlett said.

“(The proposed buildings) are 60 percent of what (the former Blue Haven building) used to be there,” he said. “These all comply with the regulations; some of the old buildings were actually over the property line. (The proposal) moves those buildings back onto the property.

“These aren't grand palaces,” said Howlett.

The property at Blue Haven Lane drew the ire of a group of residents in March 2014. A group of citizens set out to create a moratorium on the proposed project.

One of the issues raised with the proposal on Monday was the increased traffic. Board Chairman Jonathan Eaton said if traffic was going to increase, it would have to be done in a controlled way that allowed fire department vehicles easy access to the site.

Jessica Sirois lives near the proposed location, and said that she's already seen troubling signs.

“The existing driveway can't hold (the cars) now,” Sirois said. “If you fill up all the (units), say they are two cars per house, that's 14 extra cars in our neighborhood. How was this approved? I really am curious to know how this was approved.”

One question raised was what exactly had been grandfathered on the property. Code Enforcement Officer Stan Waltz said the buildings that hung out over the property line wouldn't be grandfathered, but that the existing zoning for seven units would.

“There were three buildings over the property line — it won't be like that now,” he said. “It's just the seven units that have been grandfathered.”

One concern that was first cited as the reason behind the proposed 2014 moratorium was additional crime in the area.

“People come and go — as I understand it, there was supposed to be a rigorous screening process,” Sirois said. “As a neighborhood, do we get any say in this?”

Sirois said recent events, such as the recent arrest of a Blue Haven Lane resident for criminal charges, could potentially place her job in danger. Sirois said she works near the proposed site as a psychotherapist, and being exposed to crime would force her to move.

“I have a legal and ethical obligation (to report crimes), and I may have to move my business,” she said. “What assurances do I have (if that happens)?”

Waltz said the town actually can't discriminate who lives where, and should action be taken to limit low-income housing, the town could open itself up to a lawsuit.