NEWRY - A proposal to light up a few ski trails for night skiing at Sunday River Ski Resort faced considerable discussion at Wednesday night's 60-minute public hearing held by Newry planners.

Concerns raised by hired attorneys and abutters pertained to lighting, parking, noise, more skier and vehicular traffic, and security.

According to tape-recorded minutes of the meeting, resort engineer Joseph Aloisio Jr. said the resort proposes to light 34 of its 668 acres. Shielded tower lights would be placed atop 20-foot-high poles along Escapade, Dreammaker, Southway and Broadway trails along Lift 7 between South Ridge Base Lodge and North Peak Lodge.

Night skiing would begin from when normal daylight operations stop and would continue to 9 p.m.

Aloisio said they expect the night operation to attract 500 to 1,000 more skiers and riders.

Questions from the standing-room-only crowd packed into the town office meeting room first addressed lighting issues. People wanted to know the output quantity of light produced and if it would reflect into abutters' condominiums.

Aloisio and resort representatives Mark Hall and Dana Bullen answered questions.

The lights, Aloisio said, would be directed toward the slopes and away from buildings.

Resident Bruce Pierce asked if reflection off the snow would cause problems. Aloisio said he didn't think it would since reflected light would be very diffused. Another resident, however, took issue with that and said he believes there will be considerable reflection. He asked the resort to produce more studies.

Hall cited a 1984 lighting study, then said the resort's goal is to make slope lighting meet standards accepted by the lighting industry. He did add that they expect some trial and error before finding the right lighting solution.

Fourteen letters were also introduced into record, with eight favoring night skiing and six opposed.

Among those OK with the idea, some didn't see the issues already raised as problematic.

North Peak condo unit owners Ken and Lisa Hart stated in an April 18 letter that night skiing would increase the value of their community and extend their enjoyment of the mountain.

Deborah Ranaldi, a North Peak resident, wrote that while more resort security would be needed, she didn't think "the peaceful ambiance of the area would be compromised by excessive lighting and noise associated with night skiing."

However, Cascades Condos owner Barbara Gray wrote on April 16 that lit slopes and Lift 7 running into the night would detract greatly from her quality of life.

Attorney and North Peak condo resident Thomas N. O'Connor stated in an April 22 letter that he and his wife vehemently oppose night skiing and its associated night dining at North Peak.

"We bought our unit and came to Sunday River precisely because it is a family resort providing the best skiing in the East," he said. "Twelve-hour or night skiing will destroy the heart, soul and ambiance that has made this mountain what it is today."

O'Connor and others said they didn't want to be forced to close window shades to block slope lighting.

He also objected to potential noise issues he said would be caused by skiers drinking and partying at the North Peak restaurant.

Abutters Nancy and Jim Warner raised the same issue in their April 18 letter.

"I think the mix of alcohol and darkness, (and) trails that are not in the best condition by the end of the ski day, may create a disaster," Nancy Warner stated.

Planners will continue work on the application in two weeks.