CAPE ELIZABETH – A public forum called by Cape Elizabeth’s ad hoc Town Center Planning Committee to hear ideas for developing the intersection of Shore and Scott Dyer roads with Route 77 got a somewhat surprising response from attendees – “Don’t.”

About 60 people turned out for the session, held on Oct. 17 at Town Hall, filling committee ears for nearly 90 minutes. While residents said they favored construction of sidewalks and other amenities, such as a town green, to make the “downtown” area of Cape Elizabeth more walkable, most opposed enlarging the town center zoning district, or plans to create a traditional New England “village feel” with larger buildings featuring apartments over ground-floor shops.

“Like many people, my wife and I were attracted to Cape Elizabeth 20 years ago because of its relatively rural nature, while still being close to a larger city,” said Julie Ann Lane resident Mark Kiefner. “I strongly support the idea of improving the appearance of the town center, but I’m very strongly opposed to any higher-density housing, because I think that would actually increase traffic and congestion, and ultimately decrease walkability and bikeability.”

“I am stunned in the most amazed way that I can be a few hundred feet from downtown and have these amazing, pastoral open areas,” said Paul Seidman, a resident of The Oaks condo complex, who argued against expanding the district. “I moved here precisely for the rural character of our town.”

Earlier this year, the Town Council dusted off a 20-year-old plan that called for establishing a “physical and psychological focal point in the center” of town, creating a nine-person committee to “take a fresh look” at those prospects.

However, Town Manager Michael McGovern says that while the committee charge calls on the group to “articulate a vision for the town center” by year’s end, it does not necessarily follow that it will adopt the original goal, to encourage development with “a coordinated design theme.”

The original plan included a list of 37 recommendations for achieving a “pedestrian, inviting environment” with “a common meeting space, visual vitality and links to open spaces and schools, along with “mixed retail uses targeted to residents.”

In June 2011, Councilor Jessica Sullivan prepared a report showing that about a third of the original recommendations had been achieved to some degree. However, the largest part of that was a set of 1995 zoning changes, which established the “town center zone,” in hopes of facilitating the full list.

According to Town Planner Maureen O’Meara, some goals were partially completed, such as some sidewalk construction and the start of a downtown stormwater system.

“And, of course, we created the town center district, to create a whole new concept of a town center that we’re still using, which is completely different from the business A district that we had here before, with huge setbacks from the street and the schools off in the residential district,” she said.

Sullivan and O’Meara agree other goals were never accomplished, such as creating a village green or establishing a slower speed limit perhaps the most popular request at last week’s forum or on-street parking on Route 77, from Tarbox Triangle to Fowler Road. Other items were simply abandoned along the way. Putting all utilities underground was deemed too expensive, while in 2008 the council rejected a redesign of the central intersection.

According to O’Meara, the biggest impact of the 1993 plan may have been the design standards written into the 1995 zoning changes, variations of which later migrated to other zoning districts throughout town.

During the forum, attendees were given a survey to fill out and asked to rank slides with different downtown views from other Maine towns.

While committee member Skip Murray said the town center is “kind of stale” when asked by Pilot Point Road resident Imad Khalidi to explain, “What’s wrong with the town center,” others declined to share an opinion.

“I don’t think my opinion really matters at all,” said Stephen Parkhurst. “Our goal is to hear the townspeople, to find out what they want, and let that direct us.”

“We’re not here to make changes,” agreed committee member Lee Rutty. “I think that’s a popular misconception. We’re just here because the council decided it’s time to look at the plan and decide if it needs an update. We’re not on a mission to do anything in particular.”

Mary Townsend, a committee member who also sits on the school board, said her goal is to ensure that that the town’s three schools, all of which are in the town-center zone, are fully incorporated or at least accounted for in any development that occurs so that “there is a safe connection for kids to maneuver through the town center.”

Meanwhile, Jamie Wagner, the Town Council’s representative to the committee, said that even as a bedroom community, Cape does need some business development.

“I almost didn’t move to Cape Elizabeth because it didn’t have a town center. I had to open a shop just so I could have a place to get a cup of coffee,” he joked, referring to the eatery he owns, The Local Buzz.

Wagner also said that, “with all due respect to my great landlord,” at the IGA strip mall, “it’s not the most attractive town center.”

A number of people asked about the fate of the Key Bank building, once the only bank in town closes in early December. Although a number of theories, rumors and potential future uses were tossed about, no definitive answers could be given.

Committee Chairperson Stephanie Carver said her group was set to meet this week to pore through the survey results. The group is slated to update the council soon on its progress, she said, although a final report of recommendations, originally due by the end of the year, may not come until early 2014.