Land deal gets new life By Lauren Gifford Harbor parcel to be transformed ments in the purchase and sale into an intermodal transportation agreement, such as a lease on one CRANBERRY ISLES - The hub with parking for 300 vehicles, of the garages on the property and purchase of a three-acre parcel of five moorings, an Island Explorer use of one-half of one of the floats shorefront property in Southwest bus stop, garage storage and deep- off the pier. Harbor, which would give the water access. Residents posed questions to town its first-ever base on the "If we buy this property, we Mr. Singh on everything from pos- mainland, won approval at a spe- have a lot of options," said Cran- sibly adding handicap parking cial town meeting Sept 25. The de- berry Island resident Barbara Mey- closer to the pier (the town of cision came in the third vote in as ers. She has been on a waiting list Southwest Harbor most likely many months. for a parking space in Northeast would not approve it, he said) and More than 100 islanders, both Harbor for 31/2 years. why he planted dozens of rose seasonal and year-round, packed Before the meeting Wednesday bushes along the shore (to en- the Neighborhood House for a afternoon, residents met with Pri- hance the view from his home). meeting that lasted more than five tam Singh, the Florida-based de- Many residents had requested hours. Residents voted 54 to 32 in veloper who owns the Southwest Mr. Singh's presence at past meet- favor of borrowing $2.4 million to Harbor property. Mr. Singh will ings and said they were glad he purchase and renovate the prop- retain ownership of a residential made himself available to answer erty. property that borders the town's questions at last week's session. Plans call for the Southwest parcel and requested several ease- see VOTE page 10 LAUREN GIFFORD PHOTO Developer Pritam Singh, left, talks with Owen Roberts, center, and Richard Dudman at the Cran- berry Isles town meeting last week. Later, voters approved the purchase of Mr. Singh's property in Manset for a transportation hub. Tremont, Cranberry Isles, Frenchboro and Swans Island