AUGUSTA — A controversial proposal to allow aquaculture businesses anywhere agriculture is allowed now — about two-thirds of the land area in the city — will be debated more Thursday by the City Council.

Councilors are scheduled to discuss the issue at their informational meeting Thursday, which begins at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at Augusta City Center.

The Planning Board, after the council asked board members to review the issue of aquaculture, recommended it be allowed as a conditional use in all zones where agriculture is allowed. That, according to Matt Nazar, the city’s deputy development director, includes multiple zoning districts, which together encompass about two-thirds of the city’s land area.

Aquaculture is not allowed now in any zoning districts in the city.

Some councilors have expressed concern that the change, if they were to approve it, could open up residential areas of the city to business development.

Some were especially concerned because aquaculture is a relatively new and unknown industry.

The issue arose in response to a businessman’s proposal to start a business of breeding tropical fish and processing live imported mussels on land he owns surrounding Uncle Henry’s on Route 17. The businessman, Joseph Sutton, owns Uncle Henry’s, a multi-state classified advertising publication.

However, Nazar said the mussel-processing aspect of the potential new business would be regulated under different standards than fish breeding. Mussel processing would be regulated as light manufacturing by the city, and tropical fish breeding as aquaculture.

Planners also recommend the city change the zone of the portion of Route 17 in the area of Uncle Henry’s from a residential to a mixed-use zone in which light manufacturing would be allowed.

City Manager William Bridgeo said Thursday’s discussion is expected to focus on the recommendation to allow aquaculture as a conditional use in zones where agriculture is allowed.

Keith Edwards — 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com