Facing a one-year deadline to complete a major restoration project at Squibnocket Beach, the Chilmark selectmen on Tuesday unanimously approved a concept plan for a new parking lot near the beach and a new boat launch at Squibnocket Pond.

The plan still requires approval from the town conservation commission (for an archaeological survey), and from the state to ensure compliance with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act. Following those steps, a notice of intent for a construction plan may trigger further review by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission.

Town conservation agent Chuck Hodgkinson, who is helping to coordinate the project, said the plan, done by Reid Silva of Vineyard Land Surveying, is in line with a recommendation that voters approved in February. The plan includes 46 parking spaces along Squibnocket Road, with spaces for public restrooms, garbage containers and a small shack for attendants.

The plan also calls for a circular turnaround about 70 feet from the beach, and places the skiff access on the south end of the pond — features that were not specified in the recommendation. Mr. Silva has further recommended paving the entire parking lot, although that is still to be determined.

The town recently used $20,000 in grant money from the state office of Coastal Zone Management to pay for legal fees related to the purchase of two properties near the beach and for design and permitting. A second CZM grant for $280,000 must be spent by June 30, 2016.

Mr. Silva envisions a 60-foot-diameter turnaround at the south end of the parking lot that could accommodate most vehicles, but not full-sized busses. As with a proposed access road to the homes at Squibnocket Farm, the turnaround would cross wetlands. “We could propose something more than what we have, but it would displace more wetlands,” he told the selectmen Tuesday.

The proposed lot is 52 feet wide, the same width as the existing lot, which lies at the edge of the eroding beach along with the access road to Squibnocket Farm. Parking would line both sides of Squibnocket Road, which is already paved. The existing parking lot and a stone revetment along the beach would be removed to allow the shoreline to find its natural boundary.

Several residents attended the selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday and offered feedback on the plan. Tony Orphanos, who lives near the beach, favored a paved parking lot, arguing that it would be easier to maintain than gravel. Mr. Silva said pavement would likely be easier to permit.

Selectman Bill Rossi worried about the aesthetics of more pavement in the area, but agreed that it made sense in terms of maintenance. Boulders from the revetment will likely be used in a retaining wall along the parking lot, instead of concrete.

Much of the discussion Tuesday focused on the proposed skiff launch, which would be located a good distance down the new access road, with no parking of its own. Mr. Silva said the site was chosen because the grades were shallower on the south shore of the pond. But Charles Parker argued that recreational boaters might find it too much of a trek.

Mr. Orphanos suggested having a separate launch site closer to the parking lot, an idea that Mr. Rossi supported. Mr. Silva said a path could potentially lead from the turnaround to a spot near the current access point on the east shore of the pond. Commercial scalloping boats would likely not need to access the pond during the summer.

“I don’t think everything has to be figured out on this first iteration,” Mr. Silva said, noting that the town could add features later on. Mr. Hodgkinson said a second boat launch would require an amendment to the archaeological survey application and could delay the process.

The selectmen approved the plan with the understanding that they would continue pursuing a secondary boat launch.

The Squibnocket Farm Homeowners Association, which has agreed to pay for a new access road, has yet to present its plans to the public. Both the association and the town will seek conservation commission approval for their archaeological surveys on Wednesday.

In other business Tuesday, the selectmen agreed to place signs along Chilmark beaches to allow people to identify their latitude and longitude in the case of an emergency. Nantucket uses a similar system, and the idea has periodically come up on the Vineyard. Town administrator Tim Carroll said the signs may arrive as early as next week.

This article has been updated to clarify Charles Parker's comments.