Article 11 authorized the town to borrow $735,000 to acquire a one-acre parcel at 91 Old Colony Lane, located within the airport zone. Town Counsel Robert Galvin explained that the acquisition would settle an ongoing lawsuit with the current owner, Equitable Development LLC, which had sought to permit a heliport on the site. Counsel noted that the property contains a historic 17th-century home and that the town already had several encroachments, including a security fence and hangar, on the land.

The article was amended on the floor following a motion by resident Pam Keith. The original language allowed the land to be used for affordable housing and or general municipal purposes. Keith’s amendment replaced general municipal purposes with open space purposes to ensure the land would not be used for further airport expansion or commercial development. Resident Steve Lynch spoke in favor of the purchase as a way to increase the town’s affordable housing count and stop the commercialization of the neighborhood. The Building Commissioner clarified that while a demolition permit exists for the historic house, the town’s acquisition provides a chance to preserve it or use it for housing.

Motion (as amended): The select board moves that the town will vote to borrow the sum of $735,000 for acquisition cost and a sum of money in land purchase expense to enable the town to acquire for affordable housing and or open space purposes a certain parcel of land on Old Colony Lane.

Vote: Passed by 2/3 Majority