Wiscasset business owners told the state April 28, they are excited at the latest ideas for the downtown, and just the fact the state is still trying to get a project there.

The feedback from people outside Wiscasset has been unbelievable, BIRCH co-owner Brad Sevaldson said. “The positive comments just make us feel so much like this is a gift of beautification to the town. And we have to applaud your efforts.”

Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce members and others met with representatives of the state transportation and economic development departments. Attendees thanked the state agencies and pointed out what they liked best, or did not understand, about the state’s options.

Among the questions, what led the state to eye Haggett’s Garage, instead of another site on the market, for tear-down to make a parking lot.

The 1911, former garage on Water Street has potential for reuse, some attendees said.

The property does not appear to carry the risk another one did, of being declared historically significant, officials responded. That can trigger more steps, state officials said.

In the Clover owner Kelley Belanger said she loved that the state would pay for a downtown project, but she said she didn’t know how installing traffic lights would move traffic along. “I don’t get it,” she said.

Gerry Audibert, regional planner for the Maine Department of Transportation, acknowledged that lights delay traffic. But pedestrians crossing at all times also delay it, he said. MDOT has counted about 270 crossings an hour in the summer. Audibert said the new arrangement of crosswalks and signals would cut that number.

“That gives you an indication of the potential reduction for (traffic) delays.”

MDOT doesn’t typically fund the things it’s offering to do in Wiscasset, but wants to do something to move Wiscasset forward that will also benefit the rest of the region, they said.

The proposal for Wiscasset, the proposed Boothbay roundabout and the Bath viaduct project all work together to help the region, according to Jaimie Logan, governor’s account executive for the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, and MDOT business and community relations liaison Jennifer Smith.

Smith and Logan explained the two agencies are starting to work together in talking with people where major MDOT projects are planned, because, they said, those projects affect development.

The Wiscasset concepts include expanded sidewalks with landscaping, and the possible removal of Main Street parking from Middle to Water streets. Smith said the idea of losing on-street parking is scary; but the changes would draw Red’s Eats customers up into the downtown to sit and eat and look into the store fronts, Smith said.

The current setup, including angled parking, doesn’t encourage that, or help with traffic issues, according to Smith. “If we have people backing into traffic and have people jaywalking, we’re going to continue to have some issues,” even with the traffic lights added, she said.

More store visits in the summer would mitigate any drop in winter visits due to the parking changes, Smith said.

Some attendees expressed concern about the town’s ability to maintain the new sidewalks, particularly in the winter. The town could give the work to a contractor, state staff said. Smith said that, for all the infrastructure the state will be putting in, “The town needs to step up and take some ownership.”

She and Logan encouraged attendees to consider them a resource and contact them about the Wiscasset proposal. Smith can be reached at jennifer.m.smith@maine.gov; Logan, at jaimie.logan@maine.gov.

“I’d like to see this project finally take place,” Russ Cloutier, a volunteer at the Morris Farm Store, said.

“That’s what we’re hoping to do,” Audibert said.

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