NORWAY – The Planning Board will view the site of a used car lot on Main Street to help determine whether the sales operation should continue.

Kevin Wiles, owner of Wiles Garage and Body Shop on Greenleaf Avenue, recently began displaying used cars on a vacant lot leased to him by Madeline Pratt. The decision has caused some controversy, as the property at 256 Main St. is part of Norway’s National Historic District.

On Thursday, the lot contained five used cars facing Main Street, as well as two cars in the rear with front-end damage.

Appearing before the Planning Board on Thursday, Wiles said he plans to mow the grass and maintain the gardens that have been established on the site. He said he has checked with state authorities and found that he can park on the grass lot.

“Nothing’s going to change, except for cars on the lawn. That’s it,” Wiles said.

Planning Board member Michael Twitchell said the board would have to see if there are any erosion-control issues with the lot.

“It’s going to be a change of use going from a residential to commercial,” Twitchell said.

The site formerly held a two-story boarding house, believed to have been constructed after a devastating downtown fire in 1894. The boarding house was destroyed by fire in 2007.

After the fire, the site was leased to the Norway Memorial Library, which abuts the property. The library maintained grass and gardens on the site, but was unable to renew the lease after money from an anonymous donor that had helped with the lease did not show up this year.

The site inspection is scheduled for the Planning Board’s next meeting on May 28, and the board is expected to schedule a public hearing for a later date. No public comments were heard Thursday, although several residents attended the meeting.

Brenda Melhus, who is on the board of Norway Downtown, said she thought the presence of the cars detracts from the work the organization has done for the downtown area, including landscaping and facade work.

“I understand Mr. Wiles wanting to do business,” Melhus said. “But the work that’s being done on Main Street is for all the businesses.”