Two proposals will be considered at the May Financial Town Meeting: Convert the Odd Fellows Hall and the old fire station to meeting spaces and four or five senior citizen apartments, by granting to Church Community Housing a 99-year lease; or approve a large bond issue to restore the buildings to existing state fire code. These proposals have stoked a much-needed discussion about the future of the town center.

The Commons Foundation has followed these discussions with considerable interest. Neither seems to provide enough space to help the several town constituencies that have voiced a legitimate stake in this arena. Moreover, the current process leaves very little time to consider other plans. An important alternative is listed below.

We would like to propose two steps that would provide a better framework for further discussion. For instance, the town owns a wonderful asset: 0.62 acres of cleared land to the immediate north of the basketball court and old fire station. Should this land be part of the plan? Right now, this parcel, held for parking, is landlocked. Without using this land now, can we satisfy the known and legitimate needs of various town groups?

If, however, the town decides to use this land, then the town will need to explore how to gain driveway access to that land. In our view, there are two viable options: (1) move the basketball court, presumably to a corner of the lot or (2) move the historic part of the fire station to another location in or near the center of town, to be determined.

Adding that land to the equation brings much-needed flexibility and a wider range of options to the town’s decision making. In fact, these decisions, or explorations of other options, might best be helped by a high-quality planning study. Similarly, the choice of the access could rely on such a study.

If the town supports accessing that land based on a professionally researched plan, The Commons Foundation would contribute funds to such a study. In addition, if the town decided that part of the land could be Little Compton-style senior rental housing, The Commons Foundation would enthusiastically provide significant financial support.

The ultimate use of the vacant land could very much affect the town’s structure and image. Let us be thoughtful about protecting the long-term beauty and usefulness of our village center.

Peter Aldrich and Jim Lock

The writers represent The Commons Foundation of Little Compton.