The Damariscotta Waterfront Project Committee is holding its first open house Feb. 5 to discuss improvements to the municipal parking lot and downtown waterfront area. The public will be asked to provide their perspective to the committee’s ideas on which project elements should be further pursued.

Members of the business community (particularly those along Main Street), citizens of Damariscotta, Newcastle, Bristol, Nobleboro, South Bristol, Bremen, and anyone else who has an interest in the future of Damariscotta’s downtown waterfront are encouraged to attend.

The Waterfront Project Committee’s work has been largely an updating of the Shore and Harbor Study that was completed in 2010.

The priority for the WPC is the reconstruction of the parking lot along with its sanitary and storm drainage system. Much of the current infrastructure dates back to the 1960s. Additional concerns being addressed are tidal surge and sea level rise mitigation measures, acquiring additional parking, and creation of public restroom.

Improved walkability will be accomplished with creation of a pedestrian walkway between the parking lot to Main Street and parking lot to Water Street. Waterfront enhancements to Riverside Park will include new landscaping, function, and sculpture.

Suggested designs for a possible boardwalk are either rectangular or one which represents the shape of a ship (in commemoration of our rich ship-building history). A separate project phase for consideration will be a pile-supported decking over a portion of Misery Gulch.

Also on the agenda is a review of the recently completed grant-funded flood resiliency study. Preliminary recommendations from our consultant Milone & MacBroom include the construction of a sea wall and regrading of the parking lot. If storm resiliency measures are to be implemented, they would be scheduled to coincide with the parking lot overhaul and storm/sewer lines replacement. A side benefit for downtown building owners is that permanent flood protection facilities may result in a reduction of flood insurance.

Whichever waterfront improvement project measure(s) are ultimately approved, town of Damariscotta and Great Salt Bay Sanitary District staff would aggressively seek grant funding from a variety of sources. These efforts would be augmented by a separate community fundraising effort, the intention being to minimize the use of local taxpayer financing of this project.

The open house will take place at Great Salt Bay School on Thursday, Feb. 5 beginning at 5:15 p.m. Light fare will be provided by local restaurants, including Damariscotta River Grill, Fernald's Country Store, King Eider's Pub, Rising Tide and Metcalf's prior to the start of a presentation at 6 p.m. The meeting is being co-hosted by the towns of Damariscotta and Newcastle, Twin Villages Alliance, and Damariscotta Region Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, contact Damariscotta Town Manager Matt Lutkus at 207-563-5168 or mlutkus@damariscottame.com.