WILTON — The Planning Board has approved a site review application for the Western Maine Play Museum on Main Street.

Starting in April, some facade and site work will be done, Angela McLeod, president of the governing board, said.

After reviewing plans with McLeod and project architect Stephanie Lull of SRL Architects on March 17, the board approved the project with conditions for more exterior lighting, signs and state fire marshal permits.

The organization is about $110,000 short of the $350,000 needed to match a grant from the Sandy River Charitable Foundation. The building renovation is estimated to cost $500,000.

McLeod said she is optimistic about the potential of opening the museum this year.

There are lots of things inside the museum still available for naming by donation to help the fundraising effort. A brick sale to raise funds is over, she said.

The building will be wheelchair accessible with ramps to the doors and a lift inside to take visitors to the second floor. The third floor will not be open to the public, she said.

Twelve parking spaces will be made at the former private home.

Board members questioned storm water drainage from the proposed paved parking lot on the flat lawn on the east side of the building.

A garden or even grass would catch any phosphorous from going into Wilson Stream, Code Enforcement Officer Roger Williams said. That, along with vegetation on the back of the property would take care of it, she said.

The museum does not own the land directly next to the stream, McLeod said. The vegetation in the back has been thinned out but what is there will remain, she said.

In other business, the board discussed holding a public hearing at their April 7 meeting for residents to discuss proposed changes to the zoning ordinance on where mobile homes will be allowed.

The warrant for the June town meeting will ask voters to consider the zoning change.

Some residents have voiced concerns about mobile homes in the downtown district, Town Manager Rhonda Irish said.

Current mobile homes would be grandfathered, she said.

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