Property at 177 Gulf Road that spans more than 70 acres and runs to the Padanaram harbor has caught the attention of the Planning Board for possible preservation. 

“I’m blown away by how extensive and beautiful this property is,’’ board member Kevin Estes said at an Aug. 23 meeting. “I would be devastated if we didn’t do anything we could do’’ to preserve it.

The land, once the site of the Pokanoket ostrich farm, features more than 2,000 feet of harbor frontage, rolling lawns and pastures, according to the listing by Milbury and Company Real Estate.

The property is being sold for $7,950,000 and includes a main house antique guest house and caretaker's cottage, among other amenities. 

Estes described the land as “the gem of the town.’’

“This is an amazing opportunity to save some key property that would make an amazing multi-use parcel for the town,’’ Estes said.

Board members raised questions about whether the town should pursue the property outright or work in conjunction with nonprofits dedicated to land preservation, such as the Trustees of Reservation, the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust or Buzzards Bay Coalition.

Board member Stephen Taylor said the public would likely be taken aback by the price tag.

“The prices are very high,’’ he said. “It’s going to freak the town out.’’

But he said that transforming the land into “cul de sacs and private ways’’ would be “disastrous’’ for the town. 

“This is an obvious place for extraordinary recreational opportunities for the town,’’ Taylor said. 

The town could use a portion of the land for recreational use while the rest stays in permanent conservation, he said.

Taylor said the town loses “thirty cents on the dollar’’on private homes because of the cost of providing services to the occupants of the homes.

“That’s still cheaper than coming up with eight million dollars,’’ board chair Kevin Melo said. “Everyone’s pockets are only so deep. I don’t think the town is looking to buy any more property as the town itself.’’

Melo suggested instead that board members “put some feelers out there’’ to see if people or organizations with ample financial resources might have interest in helping to secure the land for preservation. 

Melo also asked Town Planner Christine O’Grady to reach out to the listing agent, arrange a tour and obtain the necessary paperwork so the board could discuss the issue again at a future meeting.