NORWAY – A focus of Thursday night’s public hearing on a planned “gathering place” downtown was whether it should include benches.

More than a dozen people appeared at the selectmen’s hearing to lend their ideas about the renovations to the Longley parking lot at Main and Deering streets. Selectmen are negotiating a 15-year lease with owner John Longley to use the space for public parking and open space.

The plan calls for a “common gathering place” or town square concept where the summertime Farmer’s Market and annual art show could continue in an attractive and usable space. Marcy Broughter of the Growth Council of Oxford Hills said before the hearing that about $180,000 of a $500,000 community development grant that had been earmarked in part for a park behind the Opera House would be used to create public parking spaces, new pavement, landscaping and other improvements at the Longley lot.

The plans, which are being designed by Pine Tree Engineering of Bath, also include a small park area in the front with an entrance framed by two large trees.

While those at the hearing were enthusiastic about the improvements, several people suggested that park benches should be added to the plan.

“As you walk down Main Street you want a place to rest,” said Andrea Burns of the Downtown Revitalization Committee.

Town Manager David Holt said several business people in the area voiced concerns about the benches, saying they might encourage loitering. None of the business owners who objected attended the hearing.

“We told these folks we were going to have a public hearing to get input and that’s what we’re going to do,” Holt told people at the hearing.

Art Traficonte, owner of 100 Aker Wood Shop next to the Longley lot, said before the meeting that he was in favor of the plan but was concerned about the park becoming a hangout. “It sounds great to us, but we didn’t want it to be a park for loiterers.”

The design will now be firmed up using the new information from the hearing before it is approved by selectmen.