Oct. 30–SWAMPSCOTT — It's been a few months since Marian Court College on Littles Point Road closed down in June. Now, The Sisters of Mercy, who own the 6-acre waterfront property, are asking for the public's input on the future of the site.

Town Planner Peter Kane moderated a community meeting Wednesday night to discuss possibilities. Walter Jacob, of the Marblehead-based Walter Jacob Architects, got the discussion rolling with a presentation showing four different uses (and architectural styles) for the land:

A boutique hotel allowing accessory uses, like wedding, business and other events;

An independent-living complex, which could include an all-community space such as a game room;

Educational use — a school of some kind; and

A private club, including tennis courts, a spa and meeting rooms.

Then selectmen, along with members of the Historical Commission and Planning Board, weighed in. They were unanimous in their favored idea for the $7 million-plus site: a boutique hotel.

Selectman Naomi Dreeben said it would be "the least intrusive, it's the least change to the environment, it will preserve the sweep of the lawn, and it's something we don't have in town." She liked that the hotel would mean the public could have access to the property. Selectman John Callahan agreed.

"The hotel idea is terrific. The town doesn't have that, it does need that, especially with a restaurant and a place for weddings. It lends itself to more uses," said Callahan.

Callahan raised concerns about how whatever goes into the site would affect the neighborhood, and said he thinks he thinks the hotel use would be the best option.

Planning Board Chairwoman Angela Ippolito pointed out that White Court — the property's name before it became Marian Court — is the town's largest remaining historic site, and was enthusiastic about the idea that the hotel could include a restaurant. She said the Planning Board has been working on a new master plan due by the end of the year, and a boutique hotel at White Court is in line with their goal of bringing in projects that support tourism and benefit the town economically and in other ways.

The education use isn't as attractive, said Ippolito, because educational institutions are tax-exempt, meaning less revenue for the town. Assisted-living facilities limit public access, she noted, and added that the town doesn't need another private club.

Members of the public who attended were less unified in their opinions.

Among concerns mentioned were how people would get into and out of the site and how it would affect the neighborhood. They also questioned the economic feasibility of a hotel; one person pointed out that Captain Jack's hotel, which the board had mentioned, failed because the business isn't substantial enough.

They also suggested other ideas for the site.

Resident Bob Benson wanted the site to be restored as a "summer White House" — President Calvin Coolidge vacationed there in the 1920s — where visitors could learn about the history of White Court, as well as have access to the Library of Congress and other historical sources. He thought this could be done, perhaps, by the town purchasing the land and/or an organization like the Trustees of Reservation taking over responsibility for it.

"It should be a conservator's enterprise," said Benson. "It's a neat idea to make it a university-based historical development of the country, because with this site you've got a winner, in my book."

Another resident, Roger Volk, of Littles Point Road, wanted the town to do the "fiscally responsible" thing by subdividing the land into residential properties. But Volk was seemingly alone in that opinion, as was one person who expressed interest in the independent-living complex — even offering to be the developer on the project.

Some townspeople did support the boutique hotel, but stressed that it would have to preserve the historical component of White Court, be affordable to most people, and allow for public access to the property.

Although it was clear not everyone agreed on what to do with the property, one thing was clear. Everyone was grateful the Sisters of Mercy were willing to take the public's interests into account in their effort to sell the land. It was also clear that they would meet again to continue discussions, though no particular date was mentioned.

Closing out the meeting, Sister Jacqueline Marie Kieslich said, "We did not intend to close Marian Court College when it closed, so since then we've had no plans or dreams made — we've enlisted your help to help us dream."

"There are a lot of needs in society today, and by working together we may touch on a few of them here."