OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The Planning Board, with some reluctance from a few of the members, has approved the demolition of the former St. Margaret rectory at 6 Saco Ave.

The proposed demolition would still need to go through the Code Enforcement Office, said Town Planner Jeffrey Hinderliter at Thursday night’s Planning Board meeting .

Good Shepherd Parish Business Coordinator David Gadbois said in an August interview that the parish would like to tear the structure down to make room for more parking for parishioners of St. Margaret Church – located across the street from the former rectory at the corner of Old Orchard Street and Saco Avenue.

The challenge of summer parking was remedied in the past with services scheduled at St. Luke’s Chapel, a seasonal chapel at 164 Saco Ave. that closed a few years ago. The chapel was in need of a new roof and other repairs, and the parish sold the property earlier this year.

The former rectory has been vacant for about six years and is need of repair, said Gadbois. The parish did not have any success trying to sell it. Gadbois said he believes the former rectory was built in the 1920s.

The Planning Board voted 4-1 to approve the demolition of the former rectory.

“Reluctantly, yes,” said board member Michael Fortunato as he gave his vote.

“It’s painful,” said board member Linda Mailhot. She said it bothers her that the building, which had “such great character and historical significance” was going to be torn down, but the job of the Planning Board was to follow certain criteria.

Board member Mark Koenigs was the single vote of opposition. He said he thought it was ironic that this building was being proposed to be torn down the same time the town is proposing a historical walking tour that would have signs picturing what the town used to look like.

“I’m opposed to saying this is appropriate action,” he said.

Following the recommendations of the Design Review Committee, which conserves the cultural heritage of the downtown, the Planning Board will at a later date approve a landscaping design for the proposed parking lot. A landscaping design must be approved before the parking lot can be constructed.

Planning Board member Win Winch said a good landscaping plan must be implemented, so that the town doesn’t begin to look like “one big parking lot.”

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].