GOULDSBORO — A spiffy bait shack built by a Portland developer in Corea Harbor might be 2 feet wider and a half-story higher than the permit dictated, but there are no grounds to tear it down, according to the Appeals Board.

The board voted unanimously Monday night that the 12-by-20-foot building constructed by Jack Soley does not violate the town’s shoreland zoning ordinance.

That ordinance restricts activity within the commercial fisheries and maritime activities district to “functionally water-dependent use,” such as commercial and recreational fishing, fish storage and sales and boat building, among others.

The ordinance specifically excludes recreational boat storage buildings.

Soley granted lobster fisherman Mark Young a lifetime easement to use the new building to store his fishing gear.

Soley also plans to use the building to store the kayaks he uses to paddle out to his island.

Carol Lingle, chairman of the Appeals Board, said Soley is using the kayaks as transportation, not recreation.

The decision followed two evenings of at times heated discussion about the building, where construction was halted once some local residents questioned whether it violated the local ordinance.

Joe and Stephanie DePasquale of Prospect Harbor, whose rental property now includes the new building on the left periphery, said their view is not impeded, but they believe Soley skirted the rules.

“There will be others with money that will come to town and do the same thing,” said Stephanie.

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