North Stonington — A petition has been filed with the town clerk asking that the former YMCA property issue be brought before the taxpayers.

The Board of Selectmen recently announced their intention to take Van Brown to court to settle the issue of who rightfully owns the former YMCA property located at 96 Button Road. The legal battle that has been ongoing since 2011 concerns Brown and his family, who raise hogs organically on the property; the state's interest in the land's decades-old designation as open space in the event of the Norwich YMCA's demise; and town officials' contention that the property may belong to North Stonington based on the land's 1972 deed and a supposed error in later land records.

Van Brown's petition, which garnered 154 signatures certified by Town Clerk Norma Holliday, asks that it be left to the townspeople to decide whether the town should accept Brown's $100,000 settlement offer and release its claim on the land.

First Selectman Nick Mullane said he has forwarded the petition to town attorney Rob Avena and that they will discuss how to move forward. No town meeting has been set.