Selectmen on Monday opted not to exercise the town's right of first refusal to purchase 2 acres of land off Dexter Lane that are currently subject to a conservation restriction.

Under the terms of a conservation restriction, which provides a tax break in return for the property owner's agreement not to develop the land, the town has the first option to purchase the land should it be put up for sale.

The Dexter Lane land in question is owned by Bruce Maksy. Maksy notified Rochester officials that he intends to sell the land for $169,000 for construction of a single-family home. That notification triggered the process of deciding whether to exercise the town's right of first refusal to buy the land at that price.

Prior to Monday's Selectmen's meeting, the Planning Board and Conservation Commission had separately agreed that Rochester should not buy the property.