MARION — A request from residents to accept Fieldstone Lane and Village Drive as town thoroughfares was unanimously opposed Tuesday, April 26 by the select board, which cited several concerns with the layout and safety of the road.

The issue goes before Town Meeting voters May 9 after residents in support of the move submitted an article on the Town Meeting warrant, known as a citizen’s petition, asking voters to approve town responsibility for the road.

Town Administrator Jay McGrail recommended against the article. One major problem with the road, he said, was the “hammerhead’’ layout, which includes a T-shaped dead end that serves as a turnaround.

At a previous meeting Public Works director Nathaniel Munafo said this turnaround features a dangerous drop on three sides.

The road is also much longer than the town permits for a dead end, he has said. 

McGrail has noted that the town was in court with the developer, Steen Realty, for years over some of these issues. But the development fell under Chapter 40B, a state statute that allows flexibility in town regulations for affordable housing.

As a result, the town was forced to waive restrictions that would otherwise be placed on the road’s construction, he said.

Select board member John Waterman said he understood why the development’s residents wanted the town to accept the road, but that doing so would not be fair to the rest of the town.

In opposing the petition, McGrail spoke of the need to balance the requests of the Field Stone Road area “with the broader interests of the town.’’

Finance Committee members also opposed the article. 

The roadways had been under the oversight of Steen Realty, the developer of the area homes, until Jan. 1, when responsibility was transferred to the homeowners association, made up of residents of the development. 

In previous meetings, residents said that many homeowners brought their residences with the understanding that the town would eventually take control of the roads.

Town officials had encouraged residents at previous meetings to bring the issue before Town Meeting so residents would have the chance to weigh in.