Developer Tony Casella hopes to be ready soon to go back to the Edgecomb Planning Board about the hotel he wants to put up on Route 1.

The only missing piece is approval from the state fire marshal's office, Casella said September 12. Once he has that, he'll show the paperwork to Edgecomb Fire Chief Roy Potter and see if it satisfies all of Potter's concerns, Casella said.

If it does, the next stop will be the planning board, the developer said.

Last spring, the board refused to weigh the hotel plan, until Casella addressed water and sewer access, traffic impact, fire safety and other issues. Then in July, he offered to drop the plan, build elderly housing instead and donate a park to the town.

That idea got zero support from officials or other residents, so the developer has continued on with the hotel plan.

Casella wants to build the two-story, 48-unit hotel on the same lot where he has a condominium rental office and a business plaza.

Meanwhile, Casella is working on a possible longer-term deal as a condominium group's on-site rental agent. The current arrangement with the Sheepscot Harbour Village & Resort Condominium Association runs out in December and he would like the next one to go for 10 years, he said.

On another front, Casella said he's interested in a nearby property: the restaurant whose most recent incarnation was as the Davis Island Grill.

The Bank of Maine did not accept an offer he made on the property, Casella said. If it goes up for auction, he'll be there to bid, he said.

A Bank of Maine spokeswoman declined comment September 12 on the bank's plans for the property, including whether or not an auction is in the cards.

Owning the restaurant would help the hotel through package offers like an overnight stay including a meal, Casella said.

Susan Johns can be reached at 207-844-4633 or susanjohns@wiscassetnewspaper.com