SOUTHAMPTON — Voters approved a $2.2 million override to buy land for a new public safety complex at a special election this week, allowing the town to move into the initial planning stages for the lengthy project.

Community members approved the land acquisition that was greenlit at this year’s annual Town Meeting by a vote of 628-404. The town hopes to use the land for a new public safety complex and possibly a new senior center.

In a message to the town on Wednesday, Select Board Chair Chris Fowles called the vote an important milestone for the safety and well-being of residents.

“With the land acquired, now the real work begins to make this opportunity a reality for our first responders and seniors,” Fowles said.

The debt exclusion allows the town to purchase roughly 52 acres at 117-225 College Highway, which has been designated as an ideal spot for the new public safety complex housing the fire and police departments due to its central location and ample space.

It will raise Southampton residents’ taxes by a rough estimate of $0.10 per $1,000, according to town officials, but is not a permanent tax increase.

Southampton’s current fire and police stations have a number of issues due to age and structural inefficiencies. The fire station was built out of a schoolhouse constructed in 1863, and the police station operates out of the old Town Hall building, constructed in 1904.

The property comprises three parcels of land designated for mixed-use development, which is more than what is needed for the public safety complex, allowing the town to explore additional options for the rest of the land.

Proposed options include a new senior center, commercial development, affordable housing, sports fields and courts, conservation and recreation space, and more.

The town has until Sept. 30 to close on the property, but we hopes to do so sooner, Town Administrator Scott Szczebak said in an email.

“For the next steps, we have already started our due diligence on acquiring the property, which will include a title search, inspection, wetlands delineation, procurement notifications and so on. We’re working with our town counsel on that part,” he wrote.

The town’s treasurer and collector, Jennifer Day, will soon begin the borrowing process for the land acquisition, which officials say could take some time.

Various town committees have been meeting to discuss their needs and how certain types of development on the land could meet them.

In particular, the Public Safety Building Committee and Senior Center Building Committee will continue to refine their plans for the secured land.

Officials also hope to soon begin a “visioning process” for the property, which would involve public engagement, collaboration between boards, committees and stakeholders, and potentially some help with professional planning and community development, according to Szczebak.

“There’s still a lot of work to do to before we take ownership of the property, much of our time will be spent over the next several months on legal and financial issues,” said Szczebak.

“This is a major step forward for Southampton and we want to make sure we do everything in a way that involves the community, is fiscally responsible and plans for the future.”

Alexa Lewis can be reached at alewis@gazettenet.com.