The Planning Board recommended the town to go ahead with the purchase of the Allendale Country Club property on Allen Street at its February 13 meeting.

The town is currently considering buying the property for about $3.2 million under the condition it will run as a golf course for the next 10 years. The country club's assessed value is between $5.4 and $5.8 million, but since the property pays less in taxes because it is classified under state law as open space, the town has the opportunity to purchase it prior to the property hitting the open market.

According to Planning Director John Hansen, the unanimous 3-0 vote (with two abstaining for potential conflict of interest reasons) came in response to a joint meeting with the Select Board, Conservation Commission, Planning Board, and Board of Assessors on January 30. Hansen said each board was asked to discuss the potential purchase and come up with a recommendation.

In response, Hansen said the board analyzed the potential purchase using its standard criteria for open space properties. The board found that the property matched most of its criteria, including that the 150-acre property is significantly sized, has scenic and recreational value, has access to water resources, is centrally located and has been identified as useful by the town.

In debating its decision, the board did not consider potential uses for the property, Hansen said. He explained there is still uncertainly and limited information about potential uses, so the board based its decision only on facts about the property itself.

Town Administrator David Cressman said requests for proposals are currently being drafted to find a group to run the facility as a golf course, in the event that the town purchases the property. He is working with the National Golf Foundation on the proposal, and anticipates sending it out in mid-March.

Cressman said a master plan will also be created to see if the site has any other potential uses while also functioning as a golf course. The question was raised at the January 30 meeting by Parks Department Director Tim Lancaster, who asked the town to determine if the department could use Allendale land immediately after the purchase.