A majority of Edgartown homeowners who were polled about a possible expansion of the historic district said they’d like their properties to be included.

About two-thirds, or 71 of the 105 respondents to a survey sent out by the town historic commission, said they would like to see the jurisdiction of the district expanded.

“I think most people see the value of protecting their property and the property around them,” said Bricque Garber, historic district commission assistant, who mailed out the surveys last February.

Adopted at a town meeting in 1987, the current historic district is confined largely to the heart of the downtown, where the commission has architectural review over changes made to 343 homes and buildings. If redrawn, the district would include 709 buildings, stretching from the harbor westward to Pease’s Point Way, with a rough northern boundary at Eel Pond and a southern boundary at Dunham Road. The expansion would add 279 downtown parcels to the existing 286, increasing the area from 74 to 183 acres.

In the survey, which went out to 266 property owners, respondents were asked if they think the expansion would benefit the town.

Most of the homeowners who endorsed expansion didn’t leave comments, but those who did said they believed an expanded historic district would protect the unique qualities of Edgartown architecture.

Charlotte Hall, who owns 66 South Summer street, said she had observed old houses being replaced by “unimaginative reproductions.”

“Let’s keep the eclectic mix we have,” she wrote. “To quote Thornton Wilder, ‘it’s a town that looks lived in.’ ”

Those who indicated that they were not in favor of an expansion mostly were wary of red tape. “We believe the expansion of the district will be a further infringement on the rights of the homeowners,” wrote Pauline and Robert Sheehan, who own 23 Morse street. “It would add another subjective bureaucratic layer to the already existing layers of commissions, ZBA, etc.”

Others objected to the expansion because they do not consider their homes to be historic, and do not want to be subject to additional regulations, especially for small home improvement projects.

Michael J. Horvitz, whose home was built in 1999, wrote in his survey that the added restrictions would reduce the property values in his neighborhood. “To add a level of bureaucratic review to these buildings under the guise of ‘historic preservation’ is unnecessary and wrong,” he wrote. “In my view, it is the cure for which there is no disease.”

The expansion idea is still in an early phase; public hearings are planned and any plan ultimately must win approval from voters at a town meeting.

Only 22 of the people who responded to the survey are Edgartown voters.

The town historic commission plans to hold two public hearings on the issue in July and August.