A midcoast auto body and motorcycle shop is looking to expand into Edgecomb. Michael Benner of Friendship, who owns Brunswick Ford’s body shop and Twisted Irons Customs, a Wiscasset customized bike shop, wants to first lease and later purchase the former Partridge Antique property, located at the corner of U.S. Route 1 and Dodge Road.

Benner wants to expand his operation by refurbishing the old farmhouse and barn. He sought the Edgecomb Planning Board’s opinion about his proposal prior to making an offer on the 75-acre property.

“I don’t want to purchase property that is useless to me,” Benner said. “We would like to bring business into town and have a secondary home here. I’ve owned a body shop for 20 years. We’re looking to bring our current operation this way because we’ve outgrown our current facilities in Brunswick and Wiscasset.”

Benner specializes in working on upscale vehicles. He works on new Lincolns and Cadillacs. He is currently building a hot rod for a Florida customer at an estimated $200,000 cost. He’s also customizing a truck for an estimated $75,000.

Benner plans on keeping his Twisted Iron Customs shop open in Wiscasset. He leases the property located at 424 Bath Road.  He considered purchasing the property, but the price was too steep, he said.

“It’s a really unique-looking building,” Benner said. “We want to make that into a destination. Maybe a pub-and-grub or into a showroom.”

The bulk of the automotive work would be done in Edgecomb, he said.

“We’re looking to lease for 3 to 5 years before buying. We want to see what happens with the worst case scenario being dumping money into something we probably shouldn’t have done in the first place,” Benner said.

The planning board ruled the property is in a commercial zone which allows a body shop. If an application is submitted, the proposal would require a site plan review for the proposed additions to the farmhouse and barn.

“I don’t really see any problems with what you want to do,” Chairman Jack French said.

In other action, the board reviewed Articles I and II of the new Land Use Ordinance draft. Several board members reviewed Article III during the ordinance review committee session which preceded the meeting.

The planning board will meet next at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17 in the municipal building.