BATH

The Planning Board tabled a request Tuesday from the Bath Masonic Building Association that would have allowed the group to replace pilasters on the front of the Masonic Temple with halfround columns.

Debby Labrecque, administrative assistant in the office of planning and development, said Wednesday the vote to table was 6-0, with board members requesting more time to look into the matter.

The Masonic Temple is located at 958 Washington St., in the city’s historic district.

In June, the Historic District Committee denied the Masonic Building Association request, which would require an amendment to the city’s historic district.

The group has already replaced the round columns that stand in front of the pilasters. But changing a pilaster to a half-round column would change the architectural character of the building, the committee decided.

A contractor for the Building Association argues that the committee had granted permission to move forward with the column replacement, and asked the Planning Board to reconsider the pilasters issue. Not until after receiving permission, the contractor says, did they place “a custom order with payment, for non-refundable columns … for installation.”

lgrard@timesrecord.com