Citizens Group Petitions Eastham to Take Land by Eminent Domain

EASTHAM – A citizens group in Eastham wants the town to take a parcel of land by eminent domain to prevent a planned affordable housing development on the former T-Time golf range.

Group member Scott Kerry submitted a petition to the town clerk last month after an agreement could not be made with Stratford Capital Group, which was looking to purchase the 10.8 acres on Route 6.

Kerry said the group met with the vice president of the Stratford Capital Group to discuss reducing the size of the development and what would need to be done for that to occur.

The group received a proposal just after the start of the New Year.

“I think we were astounded by the numbers we received in the proposal,” Kerry said.

Kerry said the costs to the town to have the development reduced in size and the cost of the entire development were just too high.

“As a group we unilaterally and immediately decided that there wasn’t much place for Eastham and Stratford Capital to move forward,” he said.

The group decided the best action was to take the land by eminent domain which would allow Eastham to be an equal partner with future land developers, according to Kerry.

The group has worked with Assistant Town Administrator Jacquie Beebe and a lawyer to write the petition article which will go before town meeting voters in May.

Kerry said there will be financial ramifications to the town.

“We will be having a number of meetings over the next two months before town meeting to explain that to citizens so everyone has equal information on everything that would happen,” he said.

Kerry said the citizens group is for affordable housing in Eastham but that the proposed project was not right for the town.

“But at the end of the day I believe this is the best avenue to seek additional affordable housing options for the residents of Eastham,” he said.