A licensed Reiki therapist is considering opening a treatment center in Edgecomb. Jenna Alphonse, a Plymouth, Massachusetts native, moved to Maine recently with her boyfriend and is looking to set up a Reiki practice at 27 Boothbay Road.

The property is owned by John Gosselin. Alphonse wants to rent a small building on his property which once housed a toy store. Gosselin and Alphonse gave a preliminary overview of their plans during the Planning Board’s July 7 meeting.

Alphonse explained that Reiki is the 151-year-old Japanese art of “hands-on healing.” Reiki is made up of two Japanese words. Rei is for “spirit, miraculous and divine.” Ki is “vital, energy and energy of life.” The practitioner helps patients restore the balance within their bodies by finding unbalanced energy within the body and restoring  the optimum balance through relaxation and meditation.

Gosselin previously received planning board approval to convert another building on the same lot into a two-room lodging house. During Gosselin’s preliminary discussion with the board, he advised that the Reiki center wouldn’t have a restroom. The planning board indicated a stipulation for receiving a change of use permit would require Reiki patients have access to the lodging house’s restroom.

Gosselin agreed to the request. He plans on submitting a change of use application at the Aug. 21 meeting.

In other action, the board advised a Boothbay couple about their plans to subdivide and sell their Dodge Road house lot. June and Elbridge Giles own a 6.4-acre property and want to sell the three-acre front portion which includes a house. They have found a buyer, but they need to create a  driveway to retain access to the property’s back lot. The couple wants to pass the back lot to future grandchildren and great-grandchildren and sought the board’s guidance in subdividing the property.

The board advised the couple they need to build a driveway with at least  a 50-foot right-of-way to retain access to the property’s back lot. The board recommended submitting an amended property map showing the proposed changes. 

Board Chairman Jack French said the proposed changes were as simple as making a small mark on a map.

“It’s a quick line on a map and that’s pretty much all they need for approval,” he said.

The board will meet next at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 21 in the municipal building.