Pownal Planning Board schedules public hearing on Freeport Diesel & Marine site-plan amendment at 614 Elmwood Road

The Town of Pownal Planning Board on May 20 reviewed a site-plan amendment request from Freeport Diesel & Marine to operate at 614 Elmwood Road and scheduled a site walk for June 17, 2026, with a public hearing immediately after.

The applicant, owner Dominic Canonico, told the board his business performs on-site diesel engine repair and small-scale fabrication and that most work occurs indoors; he described two milling machines, two lathes and welding equipment, and said typical stored materials include limited quantities of motor oil and antifreeze. "We are not looking to do a traditional boat yard," Canonico said, describing outdoor vessel storage as temporary and mostly during winter months.

Why it matters: the parcel carries a 1989 Board of Appeals special-exemption tied to "light manufacturing." Board members and staff debated whether that language should be interpreted under today’s ordinance as "light manufacturing" or the broader "light industry," and they asked for clarity before taking final action. Planning staff advised that the board must confirm which conditions from the 1989 decision still apply and, if needed, identify which may be reconsidered as part of the site-plan amendment.

Board concerns and required materials: members pressed the applicant for a legible site or sketch plan that marks the proposed boat-staging area, dumpster location, any new lighting, and storage details. Canonico estimated the temporary outdoor storage could be roughly "15–25" boats depending on size and said waste oils and emulsified fluids are kept in 55-gallon drums that Enviro Serv collects and replaces. The applicant said he typically keeps about 50 gallons of new motor oil and antifreeze on-site and that waste barrels are rotated; the board asked that those storage locations be shown on the plan.

Water-supply caution: planning staff noted a Yarmouth Water District letter pointing out the Pownal Elementary School drinking-water well lies under 500 feet from the property entrance and warned that sandy soils in the area can allow surface spills to reach groundwater more quickly. Eric Gagnon of the Yarmouth Water District told the board he appreciated the applicant’s written spill-response procedures and urged the district be notified promptly in the event of any spill for assessment and sampling. "I applaud the applicant because their spill plan is great," Gagnon said.

Agreed next steps: the board concluded the applicant appears to meet the 1989 BOA conditions 1–3 but deferred final determination on the part of condition 4 that limits toxic materials and outdoor storage. The board asked the applicant to return with a labeled sketch or site plan (dimensions for the storage area and dumpster, proposed paving or surfacing for vessel storage, and any security lighting or cameras). A site walk is set for June 17, 2026 at 5 p.m., followed by a public hearing and a subsequent vote by the Planning Board.

Administrative notes: the board clarified that any future changes beyond the approved conditions (for example, expanding outdoor storage beyond the designated area) would require returning to the Planning Board or the Board of Appeals as applicable.