A proposed pharmacy for a Water Street, Wiscasset medical practice and possibly other customers comes after years of Wiscasset residents saying the town needs a pharmacy. At Monday night’s planning board meeting, Chair Karl Olson spoke to that need.

“I think it should be” open to the public, Olson said. “I think the town needs it.” But due to that prospect, the board should probably require a parking and traffic statement the proposal would otherwise not need, he said. 

A representative for applicant Genoa Healthcare, Matthew Winch, told the board in the meeting at the town office and carried on Zoom, he had not looked at “technical requirements for retail use.” He noted the 14 existing parking spaces and a public parking lot across the street “which I’m sure will be accessed and utilized ... I’m happy to provide” the information, he said.

Wiscasset Family Health Office Manager Shelley Strozier confirmed Tuesday, that is the medical practice the proposal refers to as being served.

Winch told the board, the national pharmaceutical company would convert about 700 square feet of vacant space in the medical office building at 35 Water St. into Genoa Pharmacy, which would have a street entrance and another inside, “through the medical office practice.”

Winch said Genoa typically serves the needs of a medical practice or its clients. He added, this pharmacy will have “the unique situation of street-facing frontage, (so) there is an opportunity to (also) serve as a provider for general members of the community. It is something (Genoa) would be interested in considering here in this instance because of the easy access from the street.”

The board went on to vote 7-0 to have Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission’s Emily Rabbe handle the application, board member and secretary Jackie Lowell said Tuesday. Also reached Tuesday, Rabbe explained the board’s decision and the next steps for the proposal: Rabbe wrote via email: “The application was moved to a de minimis review with the planner. Once the applicant submits the supplemental information requested by the Planning Board, the application will be reviewed by the planner and a finding of fact/conclusions of law will be prepared and submitted to the (board) for their review and decision.”