JAR Cannabis has its OK from Wiscasset's planning board. In October, the board voted to have Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Emily Rabbe review the recreational cannabis retail store proposed for 564 Bath Road, formerly Seacoast Coffee Company. And Nov. 25, at Rabbe's recommendation, the board nodded the project.

In an advance email, Rabbe noted the square footage was tweaked by 20 square feet to a new total of 1,420 after the Lewiston-based business and its design team refined the floor layout.

According to findings the board approved Nov. 20, "no appreciable traffic increase is expected," the building will get a $45,000-$60,000 remodel, and the business anticipates 20 to 40 customers a day. 

Also Nov. 25, the board heard the latest on Tucker Chevrolet's proposed 20,000-plus square foot dealership and maintenance center at 771 Bath Road. Priority Real Estate's Curtis Neufeld, representing the applicant, said discussions over how to have the building look, including its facade, are why the applicant has not been back before the board sooner. Neufeld noted a home there will be demolished and the property's entrance will be moved for better sight distance.

The board found the application complete and planned a 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2 site visit and a 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9 public hearing at the town office. Then on Monday night, Dec. 2, Rabbe said the hearing was moving to Dec. 23. She explained via email, Chair Karl Olson said it was because public notice had not been able to run two consecutive weeks before Dec. 9. Due to Thanksgiving, Boothbay Register/Wiscasset Newspaper completed its Nov. 28 print edition hours before the Nov. 25 meeting.

The board decided Wiscasset Yacht Club's proposed riprap repair will get a review. Board member Allen Cohen had proposed "they be allowed to go through emergency repair, without going through any more hoops. (Maine Department of Environmental Protection) approved it. Why should we hold it up?"

Olson then noted similar projects in other coastal towns have undergone local reviews. Cohen withdrew his motion and the board went with Cohen's next one, based on Olson's suggestion to have Rabbe review the proposed work and get back to the board for its Dec. 9 meeting.

Mary Bowers represented the club because its commodore, her husband Fred Bowers, could not attend. She called the planned review "a wise decision." She told the board she serves on Alna's appeals board, "and I know the shoreland zone is a sensitive area."

DEP recommended some permanent plantings to help stabilize the area, Bowers said.

The board agreed Olson could sign for the board on Charm Thai's proposal after Rabbe is satisfied it conforms. The restaurant's owner, Stephen Heald, who is leasing the site from Norman Sherman, told the board the hope is "for maybe two full seatings a day, perhaps. We don't know. But we're extremely hopeful. We're inclined to think that folks are anxious. We're prepared, and standing by for whatever we can do to help the town," he added. "That's one of the reasons we're here."