The results from a months-long survey regarding the municipal parking lot in Damariscotta have been released. The results show that while respondents want to rebuild the lot, they weren't so sure with some of the potential options.

The waterfront committee developed and issued a survey to “capture the voice of the community” in regards to several aspects of the proposed lot, according to press release issued Monday, Aug. 3. The waterfront committee was created in 2014 to discover what could be done to the large municipal parking lot in downtown Damariscotta, and how it could be funded.

In addition to the survey, the town and the waterfront committee held several open houses to gauge interest and see how different designs were received.

The survey, which was conducted both online and via paper surveys at the town hall, started in May and ended July 19. According to a press release from Damariscotta Town Manager Matt Lutkus, there were 281 respondents to the survey, including 32 Damariscotta business owners, 117 property owners and 97 residents to go along with 86 respondents from neighboring towns.

According to that report, almost 77 percent of the respondents said the reconstruction of the lot was of the highest priority. Included in that reconstruction was the added flood measures to protect the downtown area from future floods and fixed several of the drainage issues currently surfacing in the lot.

According to Lutkus' release, four out of every five respondents checked yes for public restrooms downtown, similar to what Boothbay Harbor has in its Whale Park.

Respondents were also keen on adding additional parking, as three-quarters of the people who responded to the question voted in favor of it. The town had considered varied measures for adding more spaces to the lot, starting with simply repainting the lot so as to allow more cars to park to creating a platform over Misery Gulch to potentially adding more spots on the abutting properties.

The potential plan to put a structure over Misery Gulch (the nickname for the small ravine between Schooner Landing and the municipal parking lot) garnered 63 percent approval from respondents.

Respondents were also positive (72 percent) towards a pedestrian walkway along Taco Alley and also supportive (64 percent) of a walkway from Water Street to the parking lot.

One of the larger issues surrounding the future plans for the lot has been the inclusion of a boardwalk. Currently, there is a small waterfront park with benches overlooking the harbor; but, to meet the flood requirements, the lot will need to be raised several feet. When that happens, the town could add a boardwalk along the water.

One of the possibilities raised at open house meetings was the possible addition of a boardwalk that emulated Damariscotta's shipbuilding past with a Herald-style board walk. Respondents weren't too sure about the addition of the boardwalk, however, as only 50 percent supported it and 44 percent of respondents opposed it.

Damariscotta selectman and Waterfront Committee Chairman George Parker was quoted in the release as saying the survey helped to shed some light on which way the town could go in regards to the lot.

“The waterfront committee was delighted to see the number of people — both Damariscotta taxpayers and others — who took the time to complete the survey,” he said in the release. “I think that it is especially noteworthy that the respondents appeared to be very well informed, not only about the current condition of the parking lot but also the issues regarding the need for protecting the historic structures in our village area.”

The results will be sent to the Damariscotta Board of Selectmen on Wednesday, Aug. 5. Although no plans have been finalized, there will also be a meeting between the selectmen and the Twin Villages Alliance about the possibility of pay-for-parking in September.

Damariscotta Selectmen’s Chairman Robin Mayer said in the release that one issue that has been raised has been the source of the funds to repair and potential upgrade the lot. Early estimates from Wright-Pierce consultants pegged the cost from $1 million for reconstruction and flood compliance to $2.5 million for the bathrooms, boardwalks and walkways.

“Many respondents took the time to provide thoughtful comments on all aspects of the project, which will be most helpful to the committee,” Mayer said in the release. “The majority of respondents are very concerned about who will pay and the potential impact on property taxes.”

To view the complete survey, visit www.townofdamariscotta.com. The board of selectmen will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, at town hall, 21 School Street.