Following a unanimous vote by the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) affirming that the potential sale of an undeveloped plot of land on Killingworth Turnpike is supported by the Plan of Conservation and Development, officials will begin considering options for the property near Chow Restaurant.

On Sept. 7, the Town Council unanimously voted to send a referral to PZC that could pave the way for the sale of the town-owned property at 36 R Killingworth Turnpike.

The 0.41-acre property is a landlocked plot located just past the driveway to Chow Restaurant. According to Town Manager Karl Kilduff, an interested party has already approached the town about purchasing the property. Kilduff said there is currently no potential sale price and declined to name the interested party. Kilduff said the Council was first approached in August about the interest.

The issue was briefly discussed at a Sept. 12 PZC meeting. According to Kilduff, State Statute requires land that is to be sold be first referred to the local PZC for a report. The PZC unanimously voted at the meeting that the potential sale of the property would be harmonious with the town’s plan of conservation and development.

With the referral in favor of the move, Kilduff announced at the Sept. 21 Town Council meeting that he would move forward with the next steps in the process. Those steps include establishing a sales price, identifying the buyer, an eventually holding a town meeting to approve the sale.

Earlier this year Kilduff said that the town has had possession of the property for close to 30 years and that by selling the property the town could get the land back on the tax rolls.

“The Town took the property as part of a tax sale during the early 1990s for unpaid real estate taxes. The unpaid taxes, penalty and interest at the time was $25,184. After the foreclosure by tax sale, it went off the tax rolls. There appears to be abutter interest in the property which is an opportunity to put the property back on the tax rolls,” Kilduff said at that time.