WINSLOW -- FPL Energy had hoped to see its application for partial removal of Fort Halifax Dam approved by Winslow planners Thursday night.

That outcome seemed farfetched three hours into a meeting that drew a full house in the Town Office meeting room.

Planners at 9 p.m. had just begun to evaluate the eight criteria they need to cover before granting a shoreland zoning permit to the energy company -- the final hurdle FPL Energy needs to clear to move forward on its plan to breach the hydroelectric facility this summer.

Board chairman Mike Parker said at the start of the meeting that he planned to end the session at 9:30.

Planners first considered safety issues regarding the physical structure that would be left after an 87-foot portion of the dam is removed.

That issue alone prompted a discussion that continued more than 30 minutes and concluded with the five-member board voting unanimously that both the south and north side of the remaining structure would represent a public safety risk.

In their discussion, planners talked of requiring FPL Energy to remove the entire south side portion of the dam as well as the two bays on the north side that would remain intact after partial breaching.

Yet to be examined was a potentially more contentious issue: The stability of the riverbank on the south side of the Dallaire Street neighborhood after dam removal.

An engineering firm hired by the town has recommended as a precautionary step that some residents on the south side of Dallaire Street evacuate their homes for at least the first day of dam removal and possibly a second day.

The planning board held a brief public hearing to allow Dallaire Street residents, several of whom attended the meeting, to voice their thoughts on dam removal.

FPL Energy did offer to pay residents who evacuated $250 a day to pay for temporary accommodations.

But Mike Cordeiro of 9 Dallaire St. said that was not good enough.

"There is no protection for us," he said. "That is what we expect from this board, and what we expect our town to do for us."

Colin Hickey -- 861-9205

chickey@centralmaine.com