The Chapel Hill Town Council unanimously voted to provide funding for the purchase of the American Legion property on Legion Road for $7.9 million at its meeting Monday night.

The property made headlines in early 2016 as it was revealed that the previous version of the Town Council passed on purchasing the property, one of the last remaining large acreages of undeveloped land in Chapel Hill, for $9 million. The town had the chance to purchase the property through its right of first refusal after the American Legion received an offer from a developer to purchase the land on Legion Road.

The developer proposed putting a mix of residential, commercial and civic space on the property while leaving a portion of the land untouched for environmental purposes. The plan and the decision by the previous iteration of the council to pass on purchasing the property drew criticism from some residents who want to see the land utilized as a park.

The council’s purchase price of $7.9 million would be distributed over three payments, according to town documents, with the initial payment of $3.6 million being made from the town’s fund balance. That payment would be made upon closing, which is set for early 2017.

The town would then commence the master planning process for the area in 2017, according to a presentation by Stancil.

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