The town initially sued to block Kabro from acquiring the 17-acre site, saying that the firm had signed a reuse plan with the town to develop the property with 34 single-family units and 40 senior apartments, with a community center.

While the town won the first lawsuit, it lost after Kabro countersued. The state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, ruled that the town had no right to impose a reuse plan on private property if it did not already have a law requiring one.

Kabro’s plan was then put before the planning commission to be scrutinized, and a final application was approved by a 5-to-3 vote.

In 2010, earthmovers were at the site, digging in search of volatile organic compounds that might have leached into the soil from Army equipment that was once on the property. Mounds of earth were left after the digging stopped.

The search was part of a county Health Department directive to find volatile organic compounds. Mary Ellen Laurain of the department reported that none were found.

Douglas Finlay contributed to this story.