East Lyme - In a unanimous vote, the Board of Selectmen Wednesday approved issuing a $4.15 million bond to buy 301 acres around Darrow Pond, a move that supporters say will play a key role in modernizing the town's public water supply and provide for open space.

"This allows for the continued economic viability of the town," First Selectman Paul Formica said.

The Board of Finance is to consider the plan Aug. 10, after a public hearing.

If approved, the matter would proceed to a town meeting and then to a referendum.

Earlier this year, the town partnered with national nonprofit Trust for Public Land, which is performing all of the legal work and reports associated with the purchase, to buy the land from Webster Bank for $400,000 less than its assessed value.

The purchase would not, for now, include public access to the pond due to easements held by neighbors, though the trust has held initial discussions with the property owners.

According to the proposal, about 50 acres on the property's higher elevations off of Flanders Road would be set aside for a water tower, which Formica said would play an important role in connecting the town's water supply to a reservoir owned by New London.

Formica said the tower would be no higher than 65 feet and would not be visible to most of the people who live near the property. He said the town would make an effort to obscure the tower from area homes.

Wednesday's vote came after public comments from a resident who lives near the Darrow land who expressed skepticism at the property's future use and at the speed at which the project has moved through the town government.

John Strafaci, who lives on Darrow Ridge, said the purchase, which was first announced in May, deserves more scrutiny.

"It seems too important an issue to not fully analyze," Strafaci said.

Strafaci also questioned if the town has had engineering studies done to determine if the Darrow property is the best place for a water tower.

Formica said the McGuire Group, an engineering firm, has determined that the Darrow land is the "No. 1 location" for a new tower.

"We don't know yet specifically where on the property," Formica said.

Strafaci also asked if the parcel would be used for ball fields in the future.

"That would be active use," Strafaci said.

Darci Schofield, project manager at the Trust for Public Land, said active recreation is "not incompatible" with the trust's mission.

"We would work with the town to make sure the most delicate areas would be preserved," Schofield said. "(The town) would have to see if (active recreation) is suitable for the area."

s.chupaska@theday.com