During a Tuesday, November 30, 2021 televised news conference in front of Town Hall Nathan Szanton, Chief Executive Officer of The Szanton Co., announced the company's decision to withdraw a purchase and sale agreement for a 46-unit affordable housing unit in the Town Center.  The decision followed a successful  Citizen Petition to send recently approved Town Center Affordable Housing Amendments to referendum [Article].  Szanton said that moving forward with the development was no longer viable as the referendum could potentially overturn the Town Council's ordinance amendments, "So, we're reluctantly announcing today that we're not going to fight the referendum.  It must be held, because the signatures have been gathered and certified."

Despite the developer's announcement, the previously slated Public Hearing regarding the selection of a date for the referendum occurred on Wednesday, December 1, with twelve citizens addressing the council.  Outgoing Chair Jamie Garvin explained that per Town Charter, the verification of a Citizen Petition "automatically triggers a referendum" even though the specific project is not going forward.  Additionally, Garvin said, "The zoning amendments that the Town Council passed in October by a vote of 5-2 were not specific to any one project. They were to address the zoning needs for affordable housing in the town-center district and were very narrowly defined and included multiple potential lots across the town center district."  The majority of the speakers at the hearing spoke in favor of holding a special election as soon as possible in hopes of mending the divide between residents for and against the amendments.  Those who spoke in favor of holding the vote during the regular June or November elections suggested there would be a larger turnout and no additional costs.  

The new Town Council will decide on a date during their next regular meeting on Monday, December 13, shortly after the two new councilors are sworn in. Although Garvin will no longer be serving on the council by this date he commented, "We have been asked to follow the steps of the [2019] Comprehensive Plan recommendation #84, which the council chose to do by approving an RFP [request for proposal] at the November 8 meeting [Article].  I don't understand why we would leap ahead of the study that will be coming back with additional information and more data that would better educate the public and create more opportunity for people to be informed.  We have been informed by the Town Clerk that a special election would cost north of $20,000."  Garvin continued, "Most importantly, again here tonight and throughout this process, people have said that it's most important to hear from the people.  Well, I can assure you that if we hold a special election we will hear from the fewest people in town, not the most.  By holding it during a regularly scheduled election you guarantee to hear from the most residents, not the fewest and in that way you will be assured that you will have a vote and an outcome that reflects the widest cross-section of the community."

Councilor Valerie Deveraux, who will also no longer be serving on the council come December 13, commented, "I really feel November is way too far away and I also feel that once the referendum happens we will know if we need to send this [amendments] back to the Ordinance Committee.  If everything stays the same, then another developer can come in.  If we move quicker with the vote, then we can do something faster with that property.  We want people to come out for the vote and February/March may not be optimal, but I don't feel that November is optimal either.  June is a good time, a lot of people will be here and we already have elections set for June."

Councilor Jeremy Gabrielson asked Town Manager Matthew Sturgis what the earliest possible date a special election could be held.  Sturgis explained that the earliest is most likely February/March of 2022 as, "You have the absentee process that has to take place; with it being a special election, it doesn't mean it is exempt from all the other requirements that go with a regular election.  You would have to give the opportunity for the voters to vote absentee, one month ahead [of the date the council sets].  Then there are other items that need to take place like programming the machinery, getting the election workers in place, and getting the ballots ready for those voters who may or may not have the ability to vote on that specified date."