WATERBORO — The 85-site Little Ossipee Lake Campground will be able to expand by adding 55 more RV campsites,  the Planning Board decided following a public hearing on Wednesday.

Boat slips, docks, and moorings in Little Ossipee Pond were the subject of much of the discussion at the public hearing. But while the Planning Board heard lake dweller’s concerns, the town does not regulate docks, and the state does not regulate docks that are in the water for less than seven months in a year and are therefore considered temporary.

David Bozza, who owns the campground with his wife Maryellen, made a pledge at the meeting to remove the five existing moorings on Little Ossipee Pond, just across Route 5. The pledge means the campground will have a total of 32 boat slips — 11 more spaces for boat parking than they have now, plus two for a nearby convenience store. The docks jut out 91 feet into the pond.

Attorney Jim Cloutier spoke on behalf of Frank and Winnie Heacock of Sunnyside Cottages, located on the same cove of Little Ossipee Pond as the campground.

“Sunnyside has made use of that cove since the 1930s,” Cloutier pointed out, noting there are only two navigational areas in the cove that allow access to Sunnyside.

He said the  campground’s dock system “looks like a marina” and not merely an accessory use to the campground.

“There has been navigational conflict already in this cove,” Cloutier said. He recommended the Planning Board engage an independent expert to look into the docking proposal before making their decision. Cloutier noted that while the town has no ordinance governing docks, there are parts of the shoreland zoning ordinance that come into play.

Mark Dodge, who owns three lots on the pond, said his family has been coming to the area since 1925.

“Why should one property owner be allowed to do this,” he asked. “They have a definite impact on my enjoyment of the lake. This would essentially ruin our property.”

Dodge and others spoke of loud music they said emanates from the campground, especially on weekends, and that calls have been made to the Sheriff’s Office about it.

Maryellen Bozza said most of those who spent time at the campground are mature adults over 55. She said about 20 percent of campers use the lake, and pointed out the expansion includes installation of  a swimming pool. As to loud music, she said the York County Sheriff’s Office has responded to such complaints just twice in the 10 years she and her husband have owned the property.

Planning Board member David Christensen asked about plans to make the pedestrian crosswalk leading from the campground across Route 5 to the docks safer. As a condition of approval, the owners will work the municipality and the Maine Department of Transportation to have a new button-activated flashing light system at the crosswalk.

Christensen expressed concern about the wake created by boats.

Planning Board member Judy Wirth said it seems to her like there were too many boat slips for the cove.

Planning Board member Judi Carll expressed frustration that there was no language in the ordinances about docks.

“We have no teeth in our own zoning ordinances other than some vague safety things,” she said.

Another question included whether contractors would be restricted to using the Route 5 entrance to the campground as they create the 55 new RV spaces or whether they could use McLucas Road, which was recently upgraded. Waterboro Public Works Director David Benton recommended the campground owners provide a bond in order to use McLucas Road, which would pay for any damages during construction. That requirement is among a lengthy list of conditions, many of which pertain to runoff, slopes, berms and and other similar matters. The owners will be require to test Little Ossipee Pond annually in August or September to monitor water quality.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.