At a meeting on Jan. 8, the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) unanimously voted that the potential sale of the Pierson School complies with the Town’s Plan of Conservation and Development. The move paves the way for residents to weigh in on the potential sale at a town meeting.

At a meeting on Dec. 20, 2023, the Town Council unanimously voted that the former Pierson School property be sold to developers HOPE Partnership Inc. and Xenolith Partners LLC for $500,000. The developers have proposed turning the former school into affordable housing and space for senior programming needs.

Per state law, the Town Council needed to first make a referral to the PZC for their report on whether or not the possible real estate action complied with the Town’s Plan of Conservation and Development.

With the PZC’s finding that the move does comply, the potential sale will go back to the Town Council so that members can schedule a town meeting where residents will vote to approve or deny the sale. The next Town Council meeting is Jan. 17.

The potential developers said that the proposed affordable housing to be offered on the property would be with a preference for seniors. The proposed programming space for seniors would be managed by the Estuary, an Old Saybrook-based non-profit that serves senior citizens in the area.

Though the proposal calls for the building to be sold, the façade of the building would be preserved while the gazebo and lawn in front of the school would be kept for community use.