WESTBROOK – The Westbrook Planning Board has set a public hearing regarding proposed limitations on fireworks sales in the city,

The meeting, which will be held on Tuesday, April 17, at 7 p.m., in Room 114 of Westbrook High School, will allow the public to comment on proposed standards that will limit the sale of consumer fireworks to the so-called Gateway Commercial District, which encompasses Main Street, from approximately Westbrook City Hall to the Portland border and to the Westbrook Arterial.

In December 2011, the City Council approved an ordinance permitting the sale of consumer fireworks in Westbrook. The issue emerged after the Legislature voted last year to allow sale and use of fireworks to be legal for the first time, starting on Jan. 1. In addition, the council set the fee for both new permits and renewals at $1,250.

The Planning Board’s hearing comes in advance of any applications, though as of Monday, there were no active applications for commercial fireworks stores pending before the city, according to Westbrook Code Enforcement Officer Rick Gouzie.

The restriction of where the fireworks stores can operate isn’t the only part of the proposal being discussed by the board. In addition, the proposal will set the hours of the stores as well as the size of the operation.

After the public hearing, the board may vote to make a recommendation to the City Council regarding the proposal if the members feel that all of their questions or concerns about the issue have been addressed.

If there are still some questions from the board, a second meeting will be held to address those before a vote is taken.