A long-envisioned affordable housing project at Peaked Hill Pastures in Chilmark took a step forward this week when the town select board reviewed a recommendation from the planning board for developing part of the property as community housing.

A planning board subcommittee has been gathering community feedback and exploring concepts for several months for the 16-acre town-owned parcel. A series of six community engagement sessions was held over the summer and early fall.

In the report dated Nov. 22 and released this week, the committee recommends that six acres of the property be developed with roughly 20 units of housing, most of them rental units and a smaller number of owned units.

The project would be designed as a community neighborhood with shared infrastructure, energy efficient building and multi-generational residents.

Some preference would be given to town employees, and the project would serve people earning up to 150 per cent of area median income, with some units reserved for people who earn 80 per cent AMI or less. (In Dukes County the AMI for a household of four is $105,000).

Funding would come from the state, the Community Preservation Act and the Molly Flender Fund, the town’s affordable housing trust, according to the report.

The report recommends that all the units be developed at once using a so-called friendly 40-B under the state statute that allows affordable housing projects to skirt some zoning regulations.

The Flanders Field softball field would be preserved, and the remaining 10 acres would be left open with the potential for recreation or open space projects in the future, according to the report.

“The need for affordable/community housing for all levels of income is urgent Islandwide. We believe that Chilmark must have a role in addressing that need in addition to providing opportunities for Chilmark residents,” the report says. “We want the project to benefit many individuals and families while balancing and respecting the character of the town.”

The report recommends that the select board solicit developer bids by issuing a request for proposals (RFP).

On Tuesday board members praised the report and said they would discuss the next steps at their Dec. 14 meeting.

“This is one of the more important things that we’ve worked on, and I think it’s very important for our town to make this work and make it work successfully for as many people concerned as possible,” said selectman James Malkin.

“We’ve got a lot on the table and the subcommittee has done a terrific job of defining things,” said selectman Warren Doty. “We each go and do some research and work on things . . . and then don’t define next steps until our next meeting.”

In an unrelated housing and zoning matter, the board suggested the addition of a setback provision to a proposed amendment to ease restrictions on undersized homesite lots. The amendment still needs approval at the annual town meeting in April.

“Thank you for the planning board’s work and yes, we’re supportive of this, and make it happen please,” Mr. Malkin said.

In other business, the board agreed to allow the harbor master’s staff to take on more supervisory duties in Menemsha in the summer months. New responsibilities will include directing traffic and maintaining comfort stations.

The idea was introduced at a meeting last month to transfer responsibilities from traffic officers in the police department. The plan would eliminate traffic officers, which are in short supply, harbor master Ryan Rossi said.

“This isn’t about enforcement of laws,” he said last month. “It’s more just about traffic flow and safety.”

The board also voted to:

• Join a statewide opioid settlement case;

• Adopt changes in the job description for the town treasurer position;

• Reappoint Joan Malkin as the town representative to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission.