NEWRY – Crepes and a proposed guardhouse and gate were among several issues discussed at Wednesday night’s Planning Board meeting.

Chairman Joseph Aloisio Jr. recused himself twice – once to present a proposal from his employer, Sunday River Skiway Corp., for a crepe concession stand on Barker Mountain, and the second to present a project to build a guardhouse and gate off Monkey Brook Road at Merrill Hill Estates. Planner David Walker took over as acting chairman because board Vice President Becky Bean was absent.

Aloisio, an engineer at the ski resort, sought site-plan approval to build a 12-by-22-foot concession stand with a small porch that would be placed near a lift at the Barker Mountain base area.

The estimated $30,000 Barker Crepe Cabana project, which was first presented to planners on Sept. 19, would be used to serve warm crepes to skiers waiting in the lift line, although it isn’t designed as a ski-in, ski-out operation. The desserts will not be baked in the building.

Since the structure would be adjacent to Barker Mountain Pond, it must also be reviewed by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

On Wednesday night, Aloisio sought permission to have the building placed, because snowmaking was imminent and access to the concession stand would only be on snow.

After a brief foray into concerns about water regulations regarding the pond, member Pat Roma motioned to conditionally OK the project based on DEP regulations and other factors.

Eventually, after planning review procedures were figured out – matters that Aloisio normally handles as chairman – planners unanimously OK’d the cabana.

“Thank you very much. Come up for a crepe,” Aloisio said.

He next presented a modification of Merrill Hill Estates, a previously approved 88-home development. Acting as the applicant’s agent, Aloisio said the 15-by-10-foot wooden gate house would be built 100 feet into the development off Monkey Brook Road to create a sense of arrival.

When asked if a guard would be in the gatehouse, Aloisio said that was a strong possibility.

“There is a concern that people will go up and drive where they’re not supposed to and make an environmental mess,” Aloisio said.

The gate itself will be a masonry structure consisting of Maine gems and natural rock.

Planners raised issues about emergency vehicles having to contend with a gate and vehicles that wouldn’t be able to stop in time due to the 10-percent grade if the entrance road were icy.

“My concern is that this is on a steep grade. It just bucks right off,” Walker said. “Are vehicles going to be able to stop going down to the gate or will they slide into the gate?”

“If it’s icy, it’s going to be hard to stop,” member Norman Davis said.

“Yes, somebody might slide into the gate,” Aloisio admitted.

Walker asked those with concerns to view the grade, and the board would continue work on the proposal at its next meeting.