Planning board approves shared dock float additions in Northeast Harbor

The Mount Desert Planning Board on June 24 approved two conditional-use applications to add floats to a shared communal dock at 47 and 49 Harborside Drive in Northeast Harbor.

The projects — continued from the board’s May 27 meeting — were presented by agent Kevin Smith. He summarized the work as an expansion of the existing communal marine structure and said the applicants are proposing additional floats that would bring the shared float area to the 800-square-foot maximum allowed for communal marine structures. "Basically that's it. Just expanding that dock," Smith said.

Board members reported a site inspection and confirmed the two properties share a single dock with walkways from each property. The board asked procedural questions about public notice and conflicts of interest; staff confirmed notice had been given and no conflicts were declared. The board opened public comment, recorded no speakers in the room and no substantive online comments, and closed public comment.

Using the short-form process for continued applications, members reviewed the checklists for the town’s applicable standards (sections 6A, 6B, 6C and section 59). Applicants’ written materials stated there would be no soil disturbance, no new lighting, no change in parking, and no increase beyond the ordinance maximum for communal float area. The board found the applicable standards met or not applicable as documented on the checklists.

After review the board voted to approve both conditional-use applications by voice vote and initialed the checklists; the record shows the approvals were granted with no additional permit conditions recorded. The board signed the required paperwork and closed the items.

The approvals conclude the planning-board review; standard permitting steps and any required state or federal permits (if applicable) remain subject to agency review as described in the applicants’ filings.