Staff Writer

It may seem like everyone has an opinion on what to do with the former Mobil gas station in downtown Kennebunk. Now a group of Kennebunk business owners and residents are tasked with coming up with a plan for the station would like to hear those ideas.

The Mobil Station Property Review Committee met Aug. 5 and discussed several possible uses for the site, but members agreed they need more information.

“We need more public input,” said Caroline Segalla, the town’s director of planning and codes.

The review committee will set up a booth during tomorrow’s farmers market adjacent to the Main Street property to learn what else would draw visitors to the area.

 “We’ve already got the farmers market, which is a huge draw,” Segalla said. “What else would get you out of your car?”

To help find out, she created a survey selectmen were scheduled to discuss at Tuesday’s meeting, after the Post’s deadline. If approved, the survey will be available online and at town offices.

The survey asks respondents to pick their favorite potential use of the land from a list of ideas such as a paved parking lot or mixed-use building with retail on the ground floor and condominiums on the second and third floors.

The committee will use the survey to help answer questions about what residents hope get from the land; whether it should be sold for profit and produce tax revenue; whether the town or a nonprofit should own it as a community-oriented facility; and what stipulations should govern any future owners of the parcel.

Among more community-focused uses are suggestions to house the chamber of commerce, public restrooms or a venue for art, music or other town activities.

Most committee discussion last week focused on a mixed-used building with condominiums on the second, third and possibly fourth floors and a first level for an indoor farmers market or restaurant.

“When we first started meeting we said we needed something unique to offer some draw to the area,” said committee member John-Paul Haley-Read.

Segalla said most of the “prime space” downtown is currently office space, which does not attract pedestrians.

The former Mobil station lot is .29 acres.

Committee member Bob Metcalf said any future use should complement businesses already in the area but not be exclusively supported by local workers, meaning the committee wants something that can be used to draw locals and tourists into the area.

“Do you want to build it for the car or do you want to build it for the people?” Segalla asked the committee. “You want people to go outdoors. That’s why you spent $1.6 million on the downtown. It’s for the people.”

While discussion wavered on whether to build on the property, one option already off the table is to leave the current structure intact.

A public input session takes place at 7 p.m., Aug. 26 at town hall.

The committee will then report to Town Manager Barry Tibbetts by Oct. 6 and give a presentation with suggestions to selectmen on Oct. 12.

Staff Writer Suzanne Hodgson can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.