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Developer's request for tax‑title lot deferred pending legal memo, council cites floodplain concerns
Summary
A developer asked the council to transfer a tax interest in a Wood River Drive lot so he could pursue building; councilors raised floodplain and charter‑authority concerns and directed the town solicitor to prepare a legal memorandum on whether the council may transfer its tax interest or must seek voter authorization.
A developer, Marty Lombardi, requested that the town assign its tax interest in a Wood River Drive lot (tax parcel referenced in the agenda) so he could pursue construction of a single‑family home. The council discussed procedural and site‑specific concerns and deferred decision pending legal analysis.
Town Solicitor advised the council that under Richmond's home‑rule charter the council may lack explicit authority to "alienate" town land and that transferring a tax interest may implicate elective authority; the solicitor offered to prepare a memorandum outlining choices and legal constraints. Councilors also raised practical concerns: the lot lies in the town's Flood Hazard Overlay District and has a local history of flooding; some members said relinquishing town tax title in that location could conflict with future municipal flood‑mitigation or buyout considerations.
Rather than taking immediate action the council asked the solicitor to provide a written legal memorandum clarifying whether transferring the town's tax interest would require a voter referendum, or whether other mechanisms (lease, mortgage, assignment of tax certificate) are legally permissible. The council indicated it will revisit the request after receiving the solicitor's analysis and encouraged the developer to be prepared for environmental reviews and permitting if he pursues building in a floodplain.
