The firm that will build 36 homes as part of a 40B project will seek $450,000 from the Community Preservation Committee in exchange for increasing the amount of affordable housing in town.

Selectmen discussed the request on Tuesday night and directed Town Administrator Paul Dawson to explore possible legal and fiscal issues regarding the request.

“There’s a lot of moving parts,” said Selectman Stephen Cushing.

Bay Watch Real Estate, which is currently constructing a 60-unit apartment complex known as Marion Village Estates, would designate five additional homes as affordable housing with the funds. If the money were to be approved, nine homes out of the 36 would be sold to those who meet 40B income qualifications.

The remaining homes will be sold at market value. Currently, four homes will be sold as affordable housing. The project is located on a 20-acre parcel behind the Brew Fish Bar & Eatery on Spring Street.

Marion Affordable Housing Trust Chair Jennifer Watson said her committee is interested in Bay Watch Real Estate’s request.

“I think it’s definitely something we want to consider,” Watson told Selectmen. “This proposal sounds intriguing.”

Under the state’s Chapter 40B Housing program, communities are required to have least 10 percent of its housing affordable. Otherwise, developers may bypass local zoning bylaws to build low-income housing.

With the additional homes, Marion’s affordable housing stock increases to 7.7 percent.

Even if the proposal gets the OK from Selectmen and Affordable Housing Trust members, Town Meeting voters ultimately decide whether or not to award the funds.

Each year, the Community Preservation Committee allocates money to projects through the Community Preservation Act in four categories: open space, historic preservation, affordable housing and open space. The money is raised through a surcharge on property tax bills. The state then matches a percentage of the town-raised funds.

Community Preservation Committee members then bring projects and recommendations to voters at Annual Town Meeting.

“Does the town want to buy additional affordable housing units?” Dawson asked. “That’s a question for the voters to decide.”