Maine Department of Transportation officials are moving ahead with plans to demolish the Haggett building to make way for a parking lot. Ernie Martin, project manager for the $5 million downtown traffic improvement plan, said this and other parking changes will be discussed at a May 8 informational meeting at Wiscasset Elementary school. The meeting’s format was the topic of Monday evening’s Advisory Committee meeting in the municipal building’s hearing room.

Martin said traffic engineers will discuss sidewalks, landscaping, the new traffic pattern and what parking will be gained and lost. The project is scheduled to begin in 2018 and be completed in phases over several years.

When it came time for questions from the audience, Paul Mrozinski asked Martin if MDOT would consider keeping the Haggett building and continue leasing it to Midcoast Conservancy, a nonprofit. Mrozinski said the property already has a fairly large parking lot that might serve the downtown’s needs. “Would you consider a design for using just the lot and saving the building?”

Martin doubted the lot would be large enough. It couldn’t accommodate more than just the employees who work there, he said. Pressed further by Mrozinski, Martin said MDOT hadn’t seriously looked into using just the lot and probably won’t. “The biggest thing from our standpoint was that parking was needed on that side of Main Street and that property was available,” he explained, adding the property had been on the market several years.

Anne Leslie of Wiscasset said she hoped MDOT would reconsider. “That building is part of the town’s architectural heritage. You’re also removing a non-profit group that does a great many good things for the community and employees 10 to 12 people. I really hope the Advisory Committee recommends the Haggett building can be spared.”

Earlier in the meeting, Martin explained why the state passed on the Sheepscot Emporium property, the blue, wood-framed building adjacent to the Haggett lot. “We were told it’s on the National Historic Register,” he said. Martin added, MDOT had found there was no existing right-of-way to connect a parking lot on Middle Street behind Treats to a lot created if the Emporium building were taken down.

Sharon Mrozinski asked about parking that would be lost on Middle Street. She and her husband Paul own the Marston House Antiques and Bed & Breakfast on the corner of Main and Middle streets.

Martin said the parking spaces removed would be the ones closest to the corner of Main Street. “Middle Street might be maintained by the town but the state owns a right-of-way from the Route 1 center line,” he said.

Sharon Mrozinski asked, “Is this project a done deal?”

“From my seat we’re moving forward,” replied Martin. “The only way it wouldn’t move forward would be if we lost out on our funding.”

The May 8 meeting will begin with an informal question/answer session from 4 to 6 p.m. During that portion, residents can meet individually with traffic planners. The hearing will follow at 6:30 p.m.

Earlier in the day, Martin met downtown with members of the Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce. In response to that meeting, he said MDOT will allow lefthand turns onto Water Street for southbound motorists coming off the Donald E. Davey Bridge.