The Finance Committee voted Wednesday to once again recommend that Town Meeting vote down the Westfield project.

Selectmen have long argued that the town should lease 18.5 acres of land off Charlotte Furnace Road known as the Westfield Site (part of the larger 72.52-acre Westfield Property) to a developer for the construction of senior housing.

Five Finance Committee members voted against and three voted in-favor of the project. The committee opposed it last year, as well.

The Westfield project was defeated at Town Meeting last year. It was twice sent back for more study in previous years.

"Housing for the elderly is good," Finance Committee Chairman Richard Paulsen said. "We have no objection to it."

Paulsen said he is in favor of building additional senior housing at Agawam Village and rehabilitating the current housing there because of its proximity to downtown.

Westfield project proponents cite the town's need for affordable senior housing, the work gone into the project, and the fact that the town already owns the land. Opponents argue that the land was acquired for recreational purposes, that it is located far from services, and that the type of development proposed does not ensure that all of the units will be affordable.