Select Board grants shoreland and floodplain permits for barn after staff review

The Skowhegan Select Board voted to grant shoreland and floodplain permits for repairs and electrical work on a historic barn after staff reported the new electrical panel and work will sit above the mapped flood elevation.

Speaker 1, the applicant, described site elevations and said the flood height in the area is mapped at 173.1 while the barn floor sits near 171.4. Board staff told members workers stopped when floodplain issues emerged and that a building permit and a limited residential shoreland zoning permit remained "pending" while particulars are finalized. Speaker 3 added that crews were "very receptive" and stopped work once they understood the floodplain severity.

Board members asked whether the work would trigger bringing the whole structure up to current standards; staff said the work did not reach a 50% valuation threshold that would require full compliance upgrades. After further procedural questions and confirmation that both the shoreland zone and flood-management permits were under consideration, Speaker 6 moved to grant the permits; the motion was seconded and the board approved the permit.

Speaker 7, speaking near the close of the item, thanked the board for consideration and described restoration plans for the house and barn. The meeting record shows no additional conditions stated at the time of approval.

Next steps: permits will be issued and staff will finalize permit particulars/conditions as discussed. The applicant and staff indicated they will return with any required details if additional elevation or compliance steps are needed.