The Edgecomb planning board is asking how a small River Road bait shack became a rental vacation cottage. On March 15, the board requested Code Enforcement Officer Stan Waltz investigate how the permit he approved for repairs a couple years ago resulted in transforming the shack into a cottage.

According to town officials, Ryan McPherson purchased the Glidden Point Oyster Co. located at 637 River Road. He received a building permit to repair a 50-plus year old bait shack in the shoreland zone. But now the former bait shack is being advertised online as a vacation rental.

“You can see right on the Internet. It’s on Airbnb’s site,” board member Gretchen Burleigh-Johnson said in the meeting.

The board voted 5-0 to seek an explanation of how the former 10-foot by 12-foot shack became a rental cottage. Chairman Jack French said the board received a complaint about the cottage being illegally located within the 75-foot shoreland zone.

“The CEO had authority to grant a permit for repairs only. This is an enforcement issue so we must turn it over to the CEO,” French said.

French explained McPherson could apply for planning board approval, but the request would be denied because state law prohibits structures within 75 feet of the shoreland  zone. The owner could appeal a planning board decision. If the zoning board of appeals upholds the board’s decision, selectmen would begin an enforcement action against the owner, according to French.

In other action, the board approved a shoreland application for Dreamland Realty Trust to add two 12-inch diameter poles to its dock at 335 Shore Road dock. Nicholas and Alexa Dinatale submitted the application on the trust’s behalf for securing the float.

The board also unanimously  approved Jack McKenna of 29 Fort Road for his stabilization and fixed pier footers replacement project. McKenna’s application requested constructing four five-foot by three-foot steps at the pathway’s beginning. The step’s frame would be two feet long and filled with crushed stone. He will also construct five five-foot by three-foot wide steps at the pathway’s end. The pressure-treated wooden frame will be  anchored with dead pins and filled with crushed stone.

According to the application, replacing footers to the ramp requires cutting down a tree. McKenna will also partially remove roots for the new footer installation. Three new footers will be constructed using three concrete forming tubes.

The board will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 29 to discuss proposed amendments to the land use ordinance.