The Oak Bluffs select board voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a request for proposals (RFP) for a multi-unit affordable housing development along the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road.

The project, still in the early stages of planning, looks to build 16 units on an eight-acre town property beside the ice rink, temporarily called the Southern Tier Housing Site.

The town bought the property in 1997 for affordable housing.

The plan also includes a potential second phase with additional units as well as the potential to expand to a 24-acre parcel the town is working to acquire via a land swap with the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank.

Three community forums were held this spring on the project; the town received grant funding from MassHousing to conduct a feasibility study.

On Tuesday, Oak Bluffs planning board member Mark Crossland and Jenn Goldson of JM Goldson, a Boston-based community planning company, presented a final draft of the RFP seeking developers for the project.

Ms. Goldson said the RFP requests detailed concepts, architectural plans and implementation ideas from potential developers. The document was tailored to include public comment from the community forums, she said.

The RFP is expected to go out this month with a plan to select a developer by October and bring the project to voters at town meeting next spring.

The project already has the backing of many residents and abutters, including the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard.

“This is an important effort and initiative and we really do look forward to working with the developers,” said YMCA board president Jeanne Ogden.

The board voted 4-0 to approve the RFP. Chairman Brian Packish was absent.

“Congratulations Mark and the rest of the gang, you’ve done a fantastic job. There’s a lot left to do but you’re certainly on your way,” selectman Ryan Ruley said.

In other business Tuesday, the board snagged over whether to fly the Progress flag outside town hall for the duration of June to show of support for the Island’s LGBTQ community during Pride month.

The request came from the NAACP of Martha’s Vineyard and has been brought before all town select boards, with approval from each so far as well as a number of town libraries.

But board members said they were opposed to raising anything but the American flag and state and POWMIA flags on the pole.

“I am in full support of LGBTQ rights, I’m in support of pride rights, queer rights . . . but in saying all of that I’m not in support of adding any flags to the flagpole, where our American flag hangs,” said selectman Jason Balboni.

NAACP Arthur Hardy-Doubleday said the flag was not a political statement but rather a show of support for the community. He requested a different location for the flag instead.

In the end, the board voted to hang the flag outside the Oak Bluffs police station.

The board also voted unanimously to refer a proposal for an AT&T cellphone pole at 4 Massasoit avenue to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission and the Copeland plan district review board and the Cottage City historic district commission. Another cell pole on Pennecook avenue was referred to the Copeland review board and a third near Circuit avenue was referred to the Copeland and Cottage City boards.

The board granted a one-day beer and wine license to MV Salads and reappointed Jesse (Jack) B. Law to a three-year term on the board of assessors.