The Marion Selectmen gave the go-ahead for an aquaculture permit south of Meadow Island.

Chris Bryant returned before the board to make his case for his second half acre of land. Bryant had previously met with the Selectmen at the Dec. 20 meeting, where he was met with opposition from abutters.

Much of the same crowd appeared at Tuesday night’s meeting, with the most common argument being that the site would impede navigation through the area.

“We have the God given right to use these waterways as intended,” Jeff Holmes said. “The accessibility is a real issue…This is about the people trying to sail through the area and the people trying to swim through the area.”

However, Bryant argued that his farm would only take up 140 feet in width and would leave plenty of space for everyone.

“There is 180 feet of room between our farm and the island or any obstacle,” he said. “We feel that is not a hardship for anyone.”

Abutters did not agree, and stated that having to avoid the farm would make it more difficult to get through the already narrow channel.

“Going around that pushes you over toward Meadow Island and more toward shallow waters and rocks,” William Barry said. “Obstruction is an impedance. If it impedes navigation it is an obstruction.”

Bryant maintained that it would not impede navigation and that getting this half acre of land was important for his business.

“For a business to be able to make a profit, we need to expand,” he said. “That’s where we’re at.”

Harbormaster Isaac Perry also stepped in, saying that Bryant has as much a right to that area as anybody else in town.

“I’ve heard some of the comments here tonight about taking lands from public trust to benefit a small group of people, but that’s what moorings are. That’s what your docks are,” he said. “The Bryants aren’t asking for anything more than a homeowner wanting to put in a dock. I can’t see denying the Bryants their permit, it doesn’t sit right with me.”

That prompted a new argument, with residents wondering if moorings would ever be put in a navigable area.

However, Perry dismissed the idea that the area could even technically be called navigable.

“That’s not a navigational channel,” he said. “Just because you can go through it doesn’t mean it’s a navigational channel. Our regulations work, they take into consideration all points of view. But the ‘not in my backyard’ argument is not a valid argument, and it’s certainly not a reason for denying this application.”

Ultimately, the Selectmen voted 2-1 to approve the request. The application will next go through the Army Corps of Engineers and then on to various state and federal agencies before making its way back to the Selectmen for final approval.