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West Bath Planning Board approves waterfront home addition for Kelsey family
Summary
The West Bath Planning Board voted May 13 to accept an application from Gregory and Joan Kelsey to add a one-story extension to their waterfront house; staff noted the lot sits within the 75-foot waterfront buffer and asked the applicants to clarify a submitted volume/area discrepancy.
The West Bath Planning Board voted May 13 to accept an application from Gregory and Joan Kelsey to expand their waterfront home, approving the project 'as presented.' The Kelseys said the one-story addition off the mud room and kitchen is intended to add livable space and a cottage-style appearance while matching neighborhood character.
The applicants told the board their property lies within 75 feet of the water, a threshold that affects allowable expansion. Applicant Gregory Kelsey said the house currently has two bedrooms and the septic system was upgraded to accommodate a third bedroom. The board and staff discussed site plans, setbacks, and a small deck shown in the submission.
Board staff flagged a discrepancy in the application paperwork where a figure of "31,206" appeared in the volume/area fields. Staff and the applicant said the designer, TJ Sylvester, may have submitted cubic-foot calculations when the checklist called for square-foot figures; the board asked the applicant to clarify the dimensions and confirmed the surveyor had updated property measurements showing the structure lies within the 75-foot line.
Members also reviewed available historical records. Staff noted the town's registry cutoff of January 1, 1989 can affect allowable expansions for structures built earlier, but said they found no definitive recorded document that would prevent the proposed work. Board members suggested checking older tax-card records if available to clarify earlier construction or prior expansions.
Before voting, staff read the planning checklist items the board requires (plan sheet size and scale, ownership verification, site plan with setbacks, erosion control, wetland/flood maps, evidence of sewage and water adequacy, and recording affidavits). Chair Gabriel Whitney moved to accept the application; the motion passed on a voice vote. The board instructed the applicants on next steps for filing and recording required affidavits and paperwork.
The board did not set a separate conditional requirement at the meeting beyond standard checklist and recording steps. The applicant said they had reached out to nearby neighbors, reporting at least one positive response and indicating other neighbors were informed. The approval permits the applicants to proceed with permit processing subject to the usual recording and technical clarifications.
What happens next: the applicants will provide any clarified area/volume figures requested by staff, complete recording documents, and follow the town's building-permit process.
