Nahant Town Meeting to tackle Coast Guard Housing

NAHANT-The fate of the former U.S. Coast Guard housing should be decided tonight at a special Town Meeting.Nahant Town Administrator Mark Cullinan urged all registered voters to attend the special Town Meeting, which begins at 7:30 p.m. in Town Hall.The special Town Meeting warrant only consists of one article, which if passed would allow the town to sell the former U.S. Coast Guard housing property. Cullinan said the article would require a two-thirds majority vote of Town Meeting to pass.The article asks Town Meeting to authorize the Selectmen to sell the parcel for not less than $2.2 million provided the sale is consistent with the development agreement approved by Selectmen.Cullinan said prior to the vote, a presentation would explain the development proposal for the property. The development agreement specifies the project would include eight single family homes in the vicinity of Castle and Gardner roads and it allows for no more than 20 multi-family homes in the Goddard Drive area.The town purchased the 3.5 acre parcel, which is located on Castle Road, Gardner Road and Goddard Drive, in January 2005 from the U.S. Coast Guard with the intention of selling it almost immediately. But the General Services Administration, the agency that disposes of surplus government property, put a clause in the purchase agreement stating if the town sells the property within three years after acquiring it, any profit from the sale would have to be turned over to the government.Because of the clause, the Selectmen agreed it was in the best interest of the town to hold onto the property for three years.?This is the culmination of more than three years of work,” Cullinan said. “We’ve gone through an exhaustive process the last few years to seek community input. With that input we’ve determined what we believe is the best possible use for the property. The proposed development is in character with the surrounding neighbors and will increase the housing stock in town. If this passes it will also return the property to the tax rolls.”Cullinan said Bass Point Residences LLC has already been selected as the developer for the project and, if Town Meeting approves the sale of the property, the firm expects to begin the actual site work in August 2009. Cullinan said the targeted completion date is January 2011.Cullinan said Bass Point Residences LLC principals Phillip Singleton and Jeffrey Gouchberg have extensive experience in development. He said he is confident the company met or exceeded the criteria set forth by the town in the Request For Proposal. Bass Point Residences LLC offered the town slightly more than $2.2 million, which was more than the minimum price of $2.1 million set forth in the RFP.