The South Bay Community Association (SBCA) board of directors decided Dec. 9 to reject retired developer Bert Loomis’ offer to buy 5 acres next to the Bay Club to build condominiums and/or an assisted-living center.

Based on comments received from community members, Gil Skinner, president of the SBCA board, advised Loomis in a Dec. 9 letter, “We believe there is very little likelihood that at least two-thirds of all SBCA members would approve a sale at this time or in the near future.”

Skinner told Loomis the board concluded that it would not be “productive or prudent” to engage in negotiations and incur “even relatively modest expenses” that would be involved in pursuing such negotiations with him.

“I gave it a good shot, and if the community doesn’t want to accept it, then I respect that. If they don’t want to sell the property, I respect that, too,” Loomis said Dec. 9 after the board rejected the offer.

Loomis questioned whether the board had received a fair and balanced presentation, and he maintained that there has been misinformation about the property’s zoning. Loomis believes the property is zoned for housing and that its use should be for housing to benefit and develop the community.

“Look at the bright side,” Loomis said, “it gives me something else to do.”

Loomis had offered to pay $690,000 to buy land that a bank appraiser had called “excess property.” Community members said the term was a misnomer and that the timbered property along Ludlow Bay was a valuable asset left as is.

Loomis said that even if the board doesn’t want to pursue his proposal, SBCA members needed to be informed that the property is zoned for housing, and that there is a shrinking number of sewer connections available that could be used to develop the property.

Loomis also had said earlier this month that he thought he had an uphill battle and he was aware that the timing of his proposal complicated things in light of the controversy over timber harvesting by Port Ludlow Associates that has upset the community.