LEWISTON — A final plan that charts the future of the Riverfront Island could be ready later this month.

City Planner David Hediger said consultants are expected to present a nearly finished draft of their master plan at a March 21 meeting of the Riverfront Island Advisory Committee.

“It’s not done now, but they are heading in that direction,” Hediger said. 

The final plan will be presented to the public at an April 4 meeting. That’s scheduled for 6 p.m. at Museum L-A, 35 Canal St.

The plan, by consultants from the Boston firm Goody Clancy, is designed to show how the city can use and re-energize Lewiston’s Riverfront Island, the area between the Androscoggin River and Lewiston’s canals, from Island Point to Cedar Street. It includes the Bates Mill complex, as well as Simard-Payne Memorial Park, Franco-American Heritage Center and Museum L-A.

Consultants presented three possible scenarios for the future of the Bates Mill No. 5 in January. The first kept the building, but redeveloped it as a busy office or convention center space.

The second removed the building and replaced it with a significant downtown park — complete with some sort of water feature, sculptures and some sort of open air concert venue. The third replaced the building with a retail development.

A mix of all three — preserving parts of the building and leaving room for a public space and some retail  — was most popular for some of the people at the meeting.

The plans also called for better connections between the Lisbon Street and the Riverfront, walking and athletic paths along the river and better pedestrian access overall throughout the area.

The consultants have been designing the final draft since that meeting, and that’s what they’ll present at the March 21 meeting. They’ll take comments and suggestions from the advisory board and retool the plan for the April 4 meeting.

“We’ve had great input from around the community, and so many people have attended the meetings on this plan,” Hediger said. “We can only hope the interest continues.”

Hediger said the final plan could be ready for City Council review and adoption later in April.

“Then, it’s up to us to keep it alive, and not let it sit on a shelf,” Hediger said. “Everything we could end up doing down there costs money, but some things would be less expensive than others. I’m hoping we can pick some of those less expensive things and keep moving and work long term for the more expensive parts.”

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