A proposal to change a contentious Edgartown housing development drew praise from town officials last week.

At their June 24 meeting, members of the Edgartown affordable housing committee said they were pleased with the amendments that Katama Meadows, a subdivision proposal off Meeting House Way, was putting forth after the committee and select board called for more units for middle-income earners. 

“This is vastly improved,” said committee member Casey O’Connor.

Though final details are still being hammered out, attorney Robert Moriarty said the backers of Katama Meadows are planning to propose donating 14 8,000 square-foot lots to the town, carving out 12 building lots for people making up to 250 per cent of the area median income and creating 26 market-rate lots on the 54-acre parcel wedged between Meeting House Way and Meshacket Road. 

The new plan cancels the previous idea of creating 36 low-income housing units at the property in favor of units targeted for people who don’t make enough for Island real estate but too much for housing lotteries.

“My clients hear you and the select board,” attorney Robert Moriarty said. “They hear you loud and clear.” 

This proposal has not yet officially been submitted with an application to the town, but if the project does move forward, it would be a rare instance of a development with a 1-1 ratio of market-rate to restricted-income lots. 

“If our proposal is approved, 26 hardworking Islanders will have a home on this Island that they otherwise would not have,” Mr. Moriarty. 

The affordable housing committee, along with the select board, was interested in housing for middle earners and previously sent letters to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission relaying their wants. 

At the Tuesday meeting, affordable housing committee members were on board with Katama Meadows new plans, and voted to send a letter in support of the new proposal. 

“I will say personally and as a member of the affordable housing committee, thank you,” said Mellissa Vincent, the chair of the committee. “Thank you for listening to us.... For the affordable housing part of it, I can say that I’m appreciative of it.” 

One per cent of the market rate lots would go to the town in perpetuity, and about half of the 54 acres would be preserved for open space. Mr. Moriarty said that accessory dwelling units, which in many cases are allowed by right in Massachusetts, would not be permitted at the development. 

This will be the fourth iteration of the subdivision, which previously bore the name Meeting House Way. A past plan was denied by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, and the Utah-based developers Douglas Anderson and Richard Matthews challenged the rejection in court. 

Mr. Anderson and Mr. Matthews still have an application with the town planning board and the Martha’s Vineyard Commission that would need to be withdrawn for the amended plan. 

The town would also need to consider how it would want to use its donated lots under the plan, and Julia Livingston, a planning board member, was interested in opening at least some of the units for low-income earners. 

Ms. Livingston, who has been critical of the project in past meetings, was even impressed with Katama Meadows’ changes. 

“I like this,” she said. “I think it’s a big improvement.”