WILTON – Planners on Thursday will review a facade grant received by the town and consider six new applications. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the town office.

At the annual town meeting this month, voters agreed to authorize officials to apply for a $100,000 grant from the Department of Economic and Community Development. The money is to improve the downtown area. Now planners will make sure plans for the grant conform to the town’s zoning ordinances and Comprehensive Plan.

Planners will consider three building permit applications. Sam Kittridge wants to build an 8-by-12-foot storage shed on a corner lot that has insufficient set-backs. William Rounds wants a permit to rebuild a home. Dennis Taylor of Taylor Made Homes is proposing to build a 20- by 100-foot storage building within the set-back of delineated wetlands.

Planners will also consider three use permit applications. James Lecrau wants to operate the Fire House Video and lease apartments over it. Collins Enterprises wants a permit to operate a junkyard, and Michele Fitch wants to operate a coffee shop and ice cream business on Main Street.

Planners will clarify the definition of an automobile hobbyist and discuss a legal opinion from Maine Municipal Association concerning whether a large amount of land can be considered exempt from subdivision laws.

At their last meeting, planners asked code enforcement officer Katherine Shoaps to contact MMA after property owner Hank McPherson asked planners to deem his property exempt from the subdivision laws. A state exemption law existed at the time he purchased his property, stating that any property containing 40 or more acres existing outside the shoreland zone was exempt from subdivision laws.

Planners will discuss an application from Richard Breau to operate an existing business under new management. The application was tabled at the board’s last meeting. Breau applied to the board to change the ownership of Steve’s Market on Depot Street in Dryden. He has already been operating the convenience store and has renamed it Rick’s Market.

Planners said they needed to know what the hours of operation will be and asked Breau to fill out the correct application form because he received the incorrect form from the town office. Planners also intend to let Breau continue to allow Dunkin’ Donuts to use space in the store as it has for several years.

Planners will also discuss advisory opinions on several properties and elect officers for the coming year.

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