Preserve Realty Trust had signed a purchase and sale agreement for the 92 acres and a 12-acre site right in front of it from Anna Marie Barnhart for $1.2 million. But the town has the right of refusal on the larger property because it has forestry tax status. Preserve Realty has already applied for a comprehensive permit to develop housing on the whole parcel, which would enable it to bypass local zoning laws if its development has at least 25% affordable housing and the town has not reached its 10% requirement of affordable housing. Less than 5% of the housing here is considered affordable.

An official with the town would not comment on whether the town's interest in purchasing the site is motivated by a desire to prevent the housing project from being developed but she did tell GlobeSt.com that the town feels that the 92-acre site is not worth $1million because it has only limited access to the street.