The town council recently reached a tax agreement with developers of a new housing facility planned for the former Zion Bible College property.

The tax stabilization deal allows the developer to pay about $106,000 this year, and then increasing amounts for the next 15 years. The deal calls for about $1 million in taxes by the 15th year.

The project — it is called "Continuing Care Retirement Community" in the plan application — will offer a variety of housing options for people 55 and older. The plan was submitted to the town earlier this fall and includes the development of a 214-unit assisted living facility, 35 cottages, and the repurposing of Belton Court, an historic building on the 39.5-acre parcel. Belton Court will include 18 independent living units, 3 guest rooms and a number of common rooms.

Many of the buildings currently located on the former college campus will be demolished, and developers also plan to construct an "International Training Center related to senior housing" on the property.

Planners met with the council members and other town officials to iron out the tax deal, which Barrington Town Manager Peter DeAngelis called a win for the town.

"I really need to give the council credit for this," he said, adding that the town did not receive any taxes from the property while it played host to Zion Bible College and, prior to that, Barrington College.

The deal also includes specifics about the amount of affordable housing units that will be included in the project. Nine of the cottage units will be sold as affordable and deed restricted as such. Another 10 percent of the total development units will be made affordable, but that figure falls short of the town's goal of 25 percent affordable in new construction. The developer has reportedly agreed to pay a "fee in lieu" of the shortfall — at about $67,000 per unit, the town is set to collect about $2.3 million.

"I love almost everything about it," said council member Steve Primiano of the tax deal, "except for the fee in lieu."

Mr. Primiano and fellow councilor Ann Strong both opposed the eventual destination of the $2.3 million; the money was slated to be used by the housing trust to increase the town's stock of affordable housing in Barrington. The town currently falls short of the goal of offering 10 percent of its overall housing stock as affordable.

"I don't think the town should get into the housing business," said Ms. Strong.

Mr. Primiano added that the money would be much better spent if it was used to off-set all residents' taxes.

Mr. DeAngelis said that he would agree with Mr. Primiano's idea "in a perfect world," but added that the state law does not allow for that.

"It can't go as an off-set to the taxpayer," he said. "I would want that too, but we can't do it."

Ms. Strong voiced her displeasure about the state law dictating the fee in lieu for affordable housing. "I think it's a horrible law."

She also referenced the proposed construction of a new middle school in Barrington, which could cost taxpayers more than $40 million in the near future.

"We need to keep that in mind," she said.

It has not yet been decided how the housing trust will use the money to increase the town's affordable housing stock, although there had been discussion about the trust purchasing local properties in need of repairs, making the repairs, and then listing the homes on the open market as affordable housing, deed-restricted.