Thomaston Planning Board Reviews R1 Zoning Rules, Weighs Walmart Expansion

The Thomaston Planning Board met in workshop on October 7, 2026, to continue its review of the town's land use ordinance, focusing on the R1 rural district. Members agreed to remove several permitted and conditional uses, including multi-unit residential structures, outdoor conservation and recreation uses, and upholstery shops, and to revisit timber harvesting rules once more information arrives from the Maine Forest Service. The board also discussed a pending Walmart expansion that would exceed the town's 200,000-square-foot cap on commercial buildings and require a variance.

Key points

• The board agreed to remove multi-unit residential structure, outdoor conservation and recreation uses, and upholstery shop from the R1 district lists, with a final vote to come at a later meeting.
• Members decided to keep transportation facility and government uses in R1, and to leave manufactured housing in place pending advice from Ben McCall.
• The board held off on timber harvesting rules until the Maine Forest Service responds to a request for guidance and a possible template.
• Code Enforcement Officer (Speaker C) reported that Walmart plans a larger expansion that would push it over the town's 200,000-square-foot commercial building cap, and that the company will seek a variance, with a submission expected by the end of the month.
• Members discussed whether a historic district overlay could prevent a mobile home from replacing a historic building lost to fire or demolition, and agreed to seek legal guidance on the question.
• The board reviewed a draft historic overlay ordinance borrowed from another municipality, with members disagreeing over whether a floating zone approach was too vague or less burdensome.

Next steps

• Staff will make the agreed R1 changes and bring the section back for a final vote.
• The board will wait for a response from the Maine Forest Service before acting on timber harvesting provisions.
• Walmart's engineer is expected to submit variance application materials to the town by the end of the month.
• The board will seek guidance on whether a historic district overlay can restrict replacement of lost historic buildings.
• Review of the R3 and R3A districts was postponed to a future meeting.

Read the full transcript