WHITMAN – Plans are being considered for the sale of the Whitman portion of land for development into a youth sports training center.
Select MA company representatives Matt Monroe and Steve McAuliffe presented their proposal regarding the Camp Alice Carlton land on Route 58, of which the town has been the holder and owner since the late 1980s.
Interim Town Administrator Frank Lynam said seven acres of the land are in Whitman and about 25 more are in Rockland.
“It’s essentially open space right now,” he said.
Select MA is a sports company that teaches soccer and manages ballfields, and are interested in having access to some of the Alice Carlton land, either through long-term lease or purchase, according to Lynam, who invited them to present their proposal to the Select Board on Tuesday, Jan. 24.
The plan already encompasses most of the Rockland property. The Hingham-based company is a club sports organization with 1,000 members.
Currently they have to go to Weymouth and Rentfield for the outdoor————- space they need.
“We’re kind of at an inflection point with our program,” Monroe said. “We identified this land that would suit our needs and … we had talked about plans [with Lynam] to initially put in full-sized fields.”
He said the company would like to use the facility for training its own members as well as donating time of field use to the towns for recreation departments.
“I think you guys downplay a little bit just how established your company is,” Select Board Chair Randy LaMattina said. “We are well aware.”
LaMattina said his family has several friends who have daughters who have gone through the soccer program.
“I think this is a fantastic opportunity for the town and, hopefully, for you guys, if there’s a partnership,” he said. “I see great advantage for the town in that partnership.
Hours of operation are currently through 8 p.m., and there are a limited number of abutters in the area, Lynam said.
The next phase is to evaluate the land and open a discussion on the plans and the company’s intent, which the board vote to support.
In other business, the board approved with regret, the rescinding of the common victualler’s license held by Waikiki House restaurant after the eatery’s owners announced their retirement and closing of the business.
Select Board vice chair Dan Salvucci noted the restaurant had been in business for about 40 years, and thanked them for doing business in Whitman, and wished them a happy retirement.
“I can remember us having twins and the young lady that worked there and owned it, she and her husband had twins,” he said. “I remember their two boys riding around the parking lot on their bicycles.”