ROCKPORT — A Damariscotta fuel company wants to site two 30,000-gallon propane storage tanks, and build a 40-foot by 60-foot (2,400 square feet) building for office and maintenance use, as well as pave parking areas and truck circulation routes for loading/offloading areas at 555 West Street (Route 90) in West Rockport. Representatives from the company, Colby and Gale, will be at the Aug. 27 Rockport Planning Board meeting to discuss the proposal.

"A Maine Department of Environmental Protection stormwater permit-by-rule application, Natural Resources Protection Act PBR application, DOT driveway entrance application, and Maine Construction General Permit will be submitted prior to construction," wrote Project Manager Josh Hogan, in the Aug. 12 application letter submitted to the Rockport Town Office.

The Planning Board meets at 5:30 p.m. in the Parker Room at the Rockport Opera House and will be streamed live. The meeting's agenda also includes a site plan preapplication discussion with MidCoast Regional Housing Trust about building two new apartment buildings, each to house four units, at the Homestead property at the corner of Route 90 and Cross Street.

Colby and Gale propane tanks

The goal of building the propane storage facility is to, "serve the residents of Rockport and surrounding areas," the application said. "The project consists of installing two bulk LP tanks, constructing a building to be used for office space and a maintenance bay, and paving the site to accommodate vehicle parking, truck circulation and storage for portable LP tanks."

The site, which lies in Rockport's District 906, Modified Mixed Business/Residential, currently comprises 3.64 acres, with a gravel driveway, concrete pad for mobile home, and forested wetlands.

COGA 555 LLC, based in Damariscotta, acquired the parcel in 2024. Matt Poole, president of Colby and Gale, is manager of COGA 555 LLC and said in the application the LLC supports building the propane bulk plant on the property.

"The project will be fully self-funded through Colby and Gale's existing financial resources," said the project's statement of financial ability, as authored by Poole. "No outside financing, loans, or other third-party funding will be required for the completion of this project."

Plans call for 11 standard parking spaces, one ADA-accessible space, and four bobtail truck spaces.

"The total impervious area at the site will be approximately 39,090 square feet total (0.9 acres), disturbs an area of 1.35 acres, and impacts 600 square feet of wetlands," the plan said.

Up to five feet of fill are to be added under and around portions of the building, the plan said.

MidCoast Regional Housing Trust

The housing trust that renovated a farmhouse on the corner of Cross Street and Route 90 is now presenting its plans to the Rockport Planning Board to build more housing in two new buildings beside the farmhouse, which has been named the Homestead.

"This pre-application submission is intended to present the proposed architectural concept and overall redevelopment approach for preliminary Planning Board review and discussion," the site plan review application filed at the town office said. "The applicant proposed concept includes an already renovated existing house, constructing two four-unit residential buildings, constructing an enclosed storage shed, and providing the required parking, access, utilities, stormwater management, and associated site improvements in accordance with the Town of Rockport Land Use Ordinance."

Plans call for building two buildings that would each house four apartment units, and the construction of an enclosed storage shed structure for resident storage. 

Since the renovation of the existing farmhouse, another developer's proposal to construct two apartment buildings across the street, each with 12 units for a total of 24 units, was approved by the Rockport Planning Board.

And, an existing building on that site, which has most recently been used by a church, is due to be acquired by the Children's House Montessori School and repurposed as an educational facility. 

The Aug. 27 Planning Board agenda also includes:

Findings of Facts and Conclusion of Law for - Site Plan Review application for the parcel(s) located at 3 Cross Street. This parcel is identified as Tax Map 027 Lot 023, which is owned by Lake City Holdings, LLC. This application is being represented by Gartley & Dorsky.

Findings of Facts and Conclusion of Law for – Subdivision Review application for the parcel(s) located at 6 Madelyn Ln. This parcel is identified as Tax Map 010 Lot 075-001, which is owned by 6 Madelyn Ln. This application is being represented by Ed Libby and Gartley & Dorsky.

8.CONTINUANCE – Land Use Ordinance and Subdivision Ordinance amendments.

9.Other Business

a.Follow-up to CompPlan workplan - Planning Board Workplan.docx

b.Holiday Meeting Dates

i.November 26 (Thanksgiving) - meeting moved to December 3

ii.December 24 (Christmas Eve)