FARMINGTON – A preliminary presentation to the Planning Board on the proposed Emery Community Arts Center at the University of Maine at Farmington initiated a discussion of concerns and comments Monday.

The style, parking, lighting, traffic flow and concerns about keeping the integrity of the Farmington Public Library intact need to be addressed once the board receives an application for the project, Chairman Bussie York said.

The proposed 14,000-square-foot, L-shaped building would embrace Alumni Theater to create an arts quad with Nordica Auditorium, the theater and the literary arts of the library, said architect Scott Slarsky of DesignLab Architects.

The plans were drawn to meet the requests of the donor of money to build the center, who wanted small multi-purpose spaces and a 100-seat performance space for programs including a children’s arts program in hope of “stemming the loss of young people from our community,” Slarsky said.

“There’s no problem with an art center, but it’s what it looks like in the historic district,” said Taffy Davis, who was there to represent the historical community.

Merrill Hall and the Farmington Public Library are on the National Historic Register with Alumni Theater considered within the historical district, she said.

Plans for a partial glass front to showcase the refinished front of Alumni Theater raised concerns about insulation, plowing, safety and vandalism as Nancy Porter asked whether the glass was bulletproof.

Board member Bill Marceau thought the university was making a “complete 360-degree turn” from its “green and geothermal efforts.”

“There are no glass houses facing north in Maine,” he said.

The actual amount of glass is limited from initial designs, Slarsky said.

Some expressed concern about excavation and construction of the center creating issues, including drainage for the library. The library addition sits less than 15 feet from the proposed center’s lobby.

Considering the library to be “very fragile,” construction 14-feet from the granite walls could be devastating, said librarian Melanie Taylor Coombs.

Whether the library’s granite footing would be disturbed during excavation seems to be the main concern of people from the library, board member Craig Jordan said of those who had contacted him.

With plans to acquire needed permits this summer and start construction by fall, the board voted 6-1 for the code enforcement officer or the college to contact the Maine Historic Preservation Commission prior to the college submitting an application.

If the commission wants to offer an opinion on the proposal, it would help speed up the process, board member Tom Eastler said.