Board finds dock amendment application complete but tables decision pending zoning review

Bernie Sonia, a partner with Saco Riverside LLC, told the Planning Board the condominium association wants a single 1,000‑square‑foot community dock to provide safe kayak and paddleboard access for about two dozen units rather than multiple small private docks. Sonia said three current owners have already signed amended condo documents to require a single community dock.

Staff and the city attorney’s memo explained that shoreland zoning limits temporary community dock size to 200 square feet and that the planning board cannot grant a variance to override zoning limits; a zoning board of appeals variance or an ordinance change would likely be required before the board could approve a larger community dock. The Army Corps of Engineers has already issued a permit for the applicant’s proposed seasonal dock, and Code Enforcement confirmed a 200‑sq‑ft seasonal dock may be permitted by right.

The board voted to find the application complete (4–0, 1 abstention) and then voted to table the site‑plan/subdivision amendment indefinitely so the applicant may pursue the correct legal avenue (variance or ordinance text amendment) and return with that determination. Staff will coordinate with the applicant on the next steps and bring the item back for a public hearing if a variance or ordinance pathway is secured.

Next steps: applicant to work with planning staff and code enforcement to pursue the zoning/variance route or an ordinance amendment, and to return for a public hearing if and when that path has been resolved.