EASTHAM — The 11 acres of town-owned property on Route 6 that once was the T-Time driving range might become a regional swimming pool, community center, commercial kitchen, affordable housing, or office space — or a combination of any of these uses.
All options remained open as of the T-Time Development Committee’s June 30 meeting. The committee’s focus will likely narrow once Cape Cod Commission studies, more research, resident input, and a potential market study reveal what is both feasible and appropriate.
The committee members discussed the potential creation of a commercial kitchen that could be used by local businesses, or office space for people who may be looking for a place outside the home to work remotely.
Other plans could still be brought to the table. The space will not necessarily be limited to commercial uses. Committee members are also researching the potential for affordable housing and a community center on the property.
Committee chair and newly elected town moderator Scott Kerry said he believed everyone on the committee thought a community center was needed.
Committee members also stressed the need for affordable housing, as Eastham continues to lag behind the 10 percent minimum recommended by the state.
The idea of a regional Outer Cape community center was brought up. A regional plan would more likely be needed if the center were to have a swimming pool, vice chair Karen Strauss said, because it would be expensive.
For now, the committee is waiting till fall on a market study, which would help determine what kinds of commercial space Eastham may need.
Town Administrator Jackie Beebe told the committee that, because town meeting was delayed, funding for the study would also likely be delayed. “If we had just had a town meeting and we had $40,000 for a market study, that’d be awesome,” she said. “We didn’t. But we will.”
Beebe said that the market study could wait until after the Sept. 21 town meeting, but, in the meantime, she’d work to see if there was any room in the budget to fund one.
In addition to T-Time recommendations, the committee discussed Kerry’s new role as town moderator, which had been brought up at a select board meeting the day before.
A letter sent to the town argued that Kerry might have a conflict of interest and suggested that he step down as chair.
All those who spoke voiced support for Kerry, saying that they’d like him to continue, at least until any recommendation from the group was brought before town meeting and a clearer conflict of interest might emerge.
“We should put it on the agenda to potentially reorganize,” committee member Steve Garran said. “I always think it’s a good idea once a year to do that.” Garran also said he would support Kerry staying on as chair.
All town committees have the opportunity in July to reorganize themselves and choose new chairs.
Select board member Jared Collins, who attended the June 30 committee meeting virtually, weighed in on the potential for conflict in the future.
“It does set a precedent, so I think it would be wise … for you to maybe step down as chair next month and maybe think about staying on as vice chair or just taking someone else under your wing,” Collins said to Kerry, so as not to “stretch you so thin in all your other roles.”
Collins said Kerry could step down “in order to prevent any questions coming up in the future about conflict. There might never be a problem, and it has nothing to do with your character at all.”
Ultimately, the committee structure is decided by the committee, Collins added.
The T-Time Development Committee will meet again on July 21 at 5 p.m.
