By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

CASCO— The statement that Casco could benefit from a taphouse or a pub as a new business in town came up during the comp plan process.

On Monday, such plans came forward: A small-batch brewery and public taphouse located at the former Chute’s restaurant building and property.

The Casco Planning Board voted to refer to what was on the agenda as a site plan review as the preliminary conference.

The board voted, 5-0, to approve the pre-application conference with Moson-Bray LLC.

At first, a motion had been on the floor to table the site plan review because the application was incomplete. Instead, the planning board not only provided a list of what was needed, but also provided an extra week to submit the requested information and be on the December meeting agenda.

“Being involved in the comp plan, people would like there to be a pub or something like that in the Town of Casco. My goal is to help you get to where we can say yes,” Chairman Ryan McAllister said.

The ‘yes’ involved the applicants defining the permitted use of their business, which would help figure out required parking. Another piece of information that needs to be documented is water usage and septic capacity.

Actually, Monday night was the deadline for applicants to submit new information for the planning board’s December meeting.

The applicants, Tor Moson and Micheal Bray, said time constraints were tight and they hoped to be open in March and they still needed to get approval from the state agency that governs brewing establishments.

“Going out to January is a big burden. We are hoping to be open by March. We need approval from the state brewing system. We can’t do that until we know you guys are going to allow us to ply our trade in your town,” Moson said.

McAllister offered a solution and a reasonable timeline.

“If we extend it out a week, you come to us in December. Even if we do have a complete application, you are not going to get a green light go-ahead at that meeting,” McAllister said.

Planning board member Tuan Nguyen continued along that vein.

“The best-case scenario would be: January meeting would be approval and signing of the finding of fact would be in February. And, we need to fit in a public hearing,” Nguyen said.

Moson described the business concept, which is a brewery and family friendly taphouse inside the building known for decades as Chute’s. It will NOT be a restaurant, but there will be seating.

“The only tables we are adding is changing tables in the restroom because people bring children to taprooms,” Moson said. “It is not somewhere that you belly up to the bar. It’s like a coffee shop with beer.”

A planning board member asked about hours.

It would be open Thursday through Sunday, Thursday and Friday would be from 4 to 8 p.m.; Saturday would be noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 8 p.m., according to Moson.

Also, there will be space on the property for a food truck or pop-up events.

“We want to be part of the community,” he said.

Chair McAllister touched on the parking lot.

“You mentioned that you aren’t planning to be restaurant yourself. You will bring in food trucks and do stuff outside. The first thing goes back to the parking lot — how that is going to configured. The other piece is: I would ask for a narrative of how this fits into allowed uses in commercial district.”

He explained where in the Town Codes to find permitted uses in the commercial zone.

“Give us a supporting information why it is that use,” McAllister said.

Also a clear visual of the property is required. Board members suggested using Google Earth maps, rather than paying a surveyor.

The next planning board meeting will happen on Dec. 9 at the Casco Community Center.