The state’s ideas for downtown Wiscasset are mostly poor ones, Wiscasset Historic Preservation Commission member Susan Blagden said April 7. She and fellow members exchanged views and concerns as they met for the first time since the Maine Department of Transportation unveiled a set of concepts to aid traffic flow and make pedestrians safer.

In cold weather, people aren’t going to want to walk from a parking lot to Main Street to go to the shops, Blagden said about one of the state’s ideas, to eliminate parking on Main between Middle and Water streets and replace the Haggett Garage building on Water Street with a parking lot.

The potential removal of the former garage dominated the night’s discussion. Because the building is in the historic overlay district and the panel has decided everything in the district contributes to its historical value, the building’s removal would need the panel’s approval, members said.

Approval of projects comes in the form of a certificate of appropriateness, part of the same ordinance that created the commission in 2015.

“That’s our ace in the hole,” Chairman John Reinhardt said about the certificate. However, Reinhardt said he would be OK with the garage’s removal because CEI, its current owner that has had it on the market, had modernized the building, and because another old garage would remain nearby.

“I have no problem with that,” he said.

Blagden questioned Reinhardt’s second point. She asked if it would be OK to let a historic home be torn down because there were others in town.

“You protect one, you protect all,” Blagden said.

“There’s got to be something that doesn’t involve tearing things down,” fellow member Wendy Donovan said.

“I’d hate to see (the garage) wash to sea without discussion,” member Jib Fowles said. He attended the monthly meeting over a computer again while he remained out-of-town.

Fowles noted numerous times that he was having trouble hearing the conversation. Town Planner Ben Averill tried moving the laptop. Fowles said he could hear a little better.

Vice Chairman Gordon Kontrath suggested trying to make parking on the water side of the railroad tracks. Other panelists said there could be environmental hurdles to that. And Blagden said it would impact waterfront properties’ views.

Reinhardt criticized MDOT’s vision for wider Main Street sidewalks with benches and plantings. That’s a European look, he said. Some widening is OK, but with an American look, Reinhardt said.

Members discussed plans to hone their thoughts into a possible statement or statements to share with MDOT.

Interest in program

Panelist supported exploring a local, state and federal partnership known as the Certified Local Government Program. According to a meeting handout, the program involves the National Park Service and state historic preservation offices; it promotes preservation at the grassroots level, the handout states.

Members said they will need to get the board of selectmen on board because any grants might need a local match. Averill said he would get the commission on the agenda for an upcoming selectmen’s meeting.

The commission meets next at 5 p.m. May 5 at the municipal building.