Town of Wiscasset, Maine & Wiscasset Municipal Airport

Rich in History and Beauty

 

This old shipbuilding community has a little bit of everything, including its airport

Welcome to Wiscasset, the shire town for Lincoln County, located in the beautiful mid-coast region of Maine. When you visit Wiscasset, it is easy to see why the Welcome to Wiscasset sign says, “the Prettiest Little Village in Maine.” The historical port and shipbuilding community sits beside the Sheepscot River, and residents enjoy the allure of rolling hills and coastal living with the right mix of suburbia and downtown living. Economic Development Director Aaron Chrostowsky says, “It has a little bit of everything. It’s a very beautiful, bucolic way to live.”

Those living in Wiscasset have easy access to highways (I-95 and I-295); the town lies at Route 27 and Route 1. Route 27 connects Wiscasset to points north and south, and to the north, the cities of Gardiner, Hallowell, and Augusta (state capital) and the south Boothbay Harbor. Route 1 connects Wiscasset to points east and west; to the east, Damariscotta, Rockland, Camden, and Belfast; and the west, Bath, Brunswick, and Topsham.

Wiscasset is a short drive to Bath (General Dynamics Bath Iron Works) and Brunswick (Bowdoin College) both major regional employers.

Wiscasset serves as a regional service center. Much of that business is located in the commercial business district along Route 1, which provides jobs and services to the community and beyond. “People don’t have to drive 20 minutes to do their shopping,” Chrostowsky explains.

Still Charming, Always Developing

Wiscasset has maintained its rural, historic charm even while enjoying the comforts of modern developments – sewer, water, and high-speed internet. Several projects are in the works to improve different aspects of the town’s infrastructure.

The Town’s highest priority is relocating Wiscasset’s entire wastewater treatment plant. The plant is in a floodplain, and recent storms have helped clarify that it needs to move from its current location in the harbor. So, the town is being proactive to avoid potential future flooding.

Another focal point regarding infrastructure is ensuring broadband coverage throughout the town. Although it already has great coverage for many parts of town, there’s still room for expansion in certain underserved areas. Coverage across Wiscasset is decent enough, but they were unfortunately denied a grant from the state to expand. However, the town has a Broadband Committee that has been actively working on funding this expansion and upgrading the whole town to fiber for the past couple of years and continues to do so.

The Fabric of Wiscasset

Local businesses make up the fabric of Wiscasset. Chrostowsky wants to clarify that they welcome new businesses with open arms and support existing businesses. We are a Certified Business Friendly Community, one of thirty-six communities given this recognition by the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. Certified Business Friendly Communities provide exceptional service and streamlined regulatory processes for business owners and communities that can demonstrate a strong commitment to business development.

“We’re open for business,” he says. “And for existing businesses that we have already, the message is that we’re here to support any way we can.”

Chrostowsky acknowledges that for local businesses, it’s a matter of peoples’ dreams and livelihoods. “Every one of them has a story behind them. I’m learning those stories. It is my job to help keep these dreams alive.”

These local businesses help to give Wiscasset’s downtown the charming, historic feel that residents love. The downtown is located in the Wiscasset Historic District because of the number of buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Wiscasset has a Museum in the Streets, Historic New England’s Castle Tucker, and Nickels-Sortwell House. Also, the Lincoln County Historical Association offers the Old Wiscasset Jail Museum.

Chrostowsky tells us that what was originally more of an art and the antique district is becoming more of a “foodie” destination. The village area is home to three restaurants, a coffee shop, a sandwich shop, an oyster bar, and a wine bar. A microbrew pub just received approval for a downtown location. The Town is home to the world-famous Red’s Eat, where you can find Maine’s #1 Lobster Roll.

“There’s a little bit of a change happening here, so it’s becoming more diverse,” he explains.

In recent years, downtown welcomed the relocation of Wiscasset Family Health Center to a new and improved facility.  With the relocation, they could accommodate a new pharmacy, Genoa Healthcare & Pharmacy. Both help to provide residents with easy access to care and different healthcare options. LincolnHealth Partners Family Medicine is also located in Wiscasset. The Town is close to MaineHealth’s Midcoast Hospital in Brunswick and LincolnHealth’s Miles Campus Hospital in Damariscotta.

Sweetz & More, a New Hampshire-based candy store chain, has located a new store in Wiscasset within the last year. It’s the largest candy store in New England.

Tucker Chevrolet of Waldoboro just bought the property and plans to relocate their car dealership to Wiscasset.

The Town most recently created the position of Economic Development Director to help build upon this momentum.

Wiscasset is also known for the Wiscasset Speedway, one of Maine’s fastest-paved oval race tracks. Every weekend for about half the year, several thousand people from all over the state attend the races.

 

Stopping for More Than Traffic

With its charming downtown, Wiscasset has no problem attracting tourists. It hopes to get them to stop in and stay a bit longer.

As Town Manager Dennis Simmons says playfully, “The tourists do stop, but unfortunately, they’re stopped in traffic.”

There is a bit of a bottleneck issue that the town is trying to improve, but mostly, they’re focused on bringing people out of their cars and into the stores. The downtown area was redesigned a couple of years ago, and a big change was removing on-street parking. This shift made a big difference in making downtown more attractive and pedestrian-friendly. There’s a lot of potential here for people to park somewhere and explore the town.

Alongside these recent aesthetic and functional improvements, Chrostowsky’s big focus is to get local businesses in the downtown area to collaborate more as a team. The goal is to get them working together to market the community and better appeal to residents and tourists.

The Town supports the Northern New England Passenger Railroad Authority’s initiative to extend Amtrak’s Downeaster Service from Brunswick to Rockland. This new service will include a stop in downtown Wiscasset to bring visitors to our community and provide our residents with access to Amtrak’s nationwide rail network. Also, believed to ease traffic congestion during the summer.

Affordable Living with LD 2003

One of Wiscasset’s main priorities remains the need for additional housing.

Maine recently passed a law requiring towns to increase housing density, encouraging more affordable housing development. In Wiscasset, the Town is updating its Ordinances to comply with the new laws.

One exciting development in the works is the Islebrook Village at Wiscasset, an Everbrook Senior Living Community. Everbrook converted an old primary school into 105 apartments for independent, assisted, and memory care living. This center will make a big difference for the community.

Several active subdivisions are in the works, so developing housing is certainly a priority for Wiscasset. “We want to attract families to move here,” Simmons says. “We have land available to build on. Come build a house!”

There is no doubt that Wiscasset is an attractive place for families. Simmons tells us, “We have a good school system and a wonderful community center. There’s a great quality of life here.”

Airport Developments Taking Off

Wiscasset is home to Wiscasset Airport, a general aviation airport that helps bring people and business to and through the town. It’s well-positioned for the area and has the space and availability to support all transportation needs, from corporate to cargo to regular commuter and charter flights.

As Simmons tells us, “I believe the airport is underutilized. It’s a gem in the rough.”

Their goal is to add additional flights to help make the airport more sustainable, bringing new jobs and money into the community.

Thanks to funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the town rebuilt the entire runway of the Wiscasset Airport last year. Plans are also underway to rebuild the apron, renovate the terminal, and build additional hangars, hopefully within the next few years.

More Developments Underway

The airport is a major part of the town’s economy, but Wiscasset has several large areas with incredible potential for development or redevelopment.

The town Public Works department has a multi-year road plan to improve all town roads. Work on the Old Ferry Road is being done to rebuild a failing tidal crossing that threatened to disrupt commercial activity. The Old Ferry Road connects the rest of Wiscasset to the Town-landing on the Back River, Ferry Road Technology Park, a large tract of town-owned property on the Back River slated for the potential development adjacent to Ferry Road Technology Park and across the street from the former Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company site. The town obtained substantial federal and state grants to pay for this project, which will protect the road from storm surge and sea level rise, while improving the environment and habitat of the upstream salt marsh.

The Town is in the planning stages with a large tract of town-owned property on the Back River slated for the potential development adjacent to Ferry Road Technology Park. The property has nearly 300 acres of wooded land on the Back River and adjacent to the Town-landing. The town is planning to conduct a site assessment on the property, and once complete, it will determine what type of development to use. There are a lot of different ideas floating around for this area, so that’s a project that could come to fruition in the next couple of years.

Wiscasset is home to Mölnlycke Health Care, a Swedish medical device company. Central Maine Power has a maintenance facility in the Technology Park, with lots available for development. The former Maine Yankee Atomic Power plant was located on Old Ferry Road. It has since decommissioned, and the company currently stores its spent nuclear fuel rods on-site in casks in a highly secure independent storage facility.

Another exciting rejuvenation project involves an old power plant called Mason Station. The town owns a lot of land around the plant, so there’s a lot of potential there.

Due to the town’s legacy in the energy production industry, much of the power distribution network is still in Wiscasset. This would make it ideal for new clean energy production, storage, and an off-shore wind farm interconnection site.

 

Productive Partnerships

Wiscasset benefits from wonderful people committed and engaged in the town’s planning and development processes.

The Town’s Comprehensive Plan Committee is in the process of updating the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.

The Town has a Climate Action Team working on a Community Resilience Partnership Grant.

The Town’s Waterfront Committee is developing plans to improve the Recreational Pier at the Waterfront to enhance the visitor boater experience and to build a Riverwalk connecting the Creamery Pier with the Waterfront Piers. Wiscasset is located on the banks of the Sheepscot River which provides the waterfront access to a deepwater port.

The Town just created an Ad Hoc Economic Development Advisory Committee to work with the new Economic Development Director on a new Economic Development Plan.

The Town works closely with the Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce and Wiscasset Creative Alliance to help support and promote small businesses and the community. The Chamber and the Alliance host several events throughout the year, including Art Walk, Schooner Fest, Homes on Tour, and Holiday Marketfest. This June, the Town will be hosting its first annual Worm Fest. According to National Geographic, Wiscasset is the Worm Capital of the World.

Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission provides the town with various technical and planning services. In particular, Wiscasset’s contracts with the LCRPC provide the Planning Board and the applicant professional planning assistance as they navigate the permitting process.  The Town is fortunate to have Emily Rabbe, the new Executive Director of the LCRPC, as our staff planner.  As Chrostowsky tells us, “For a town this size and in Maine, it’s rare to have a planner and economic developer on staff.”

The town works closely with the Midcoast Council of Governments staff on economic development matters such as TIFs and the state Department of Economic Community Development (DECD).

Wiscasset has secured funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to purchase generators to improve the sewer system and pump stations. The town is the beneficiary of $5,000,000 in 2023 Congressional Directed Spending to upgrade its existing collection system and conduct a feasibility study for relocating the wastewater treatment plant.

The town is looking to do a needs assessment for their office building. It was built in the late sixties and houses the police, EMS, and fire station. It wasn’t designed to hold all this, so it’s beyond capacity. “Simply put, we’re out of the room,” says Simmons. He hopes that they can secure funding to fix this issue. When the building was first built, the Town didn’t offer 24/7 full-time professional police and EMS services.

2024 and Beyond

Many projects are in the pipeline, but the town manager has had one big goal in mind since he took office in 2020: restoring the Mason Station. He told us that a developer is exercising and studying the feasibility of buying the station and modernizing it into a mixed-use development.

He explains: “That plant has been sitting there vacant since the mid-1990s with not much of any activity at all. It’s a beautiful piece of land and a beautiful building. I want to turn it into something that benefits the town as a whole.”

Simultaneously, Simmons is focused on cleaning up the town’s Brownfield sites. They completed one last year and are starting another $700,000 project this year. The Town is working closely with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission (LCRPC), and the Town’s consultant, Sevee & Maher, to get brownfield remediation grants to clean up town-owned property around Mason Station.

The town focuses on rejuvenating old and unused spaces into new, improved properties while maintaining their historic charm, which is the appeal of Wiscasset.

The town is constantly trying to improve its infrastructure. It will be exciting to see what’s to come in the next few years.

AT A GLANCE

Town of Wiscasset, Maine & Wiscasset Municipal Airport

What: A historic shipbuilding community with its airport focused on rejuvenating infrastructure and unused spaces.

Where: The shire town of Lincoln County is located in Maine’s mid-coast region.

Website: https://www.wiscasset.org/