The Currituck Board of Commissioners have OK'd the $3.2 million purchase of a 100-acre Harbinger horse farm to be developed as a county-run equestrian center.

The board — following closed session discussions — voted 3-1 Monday night to support the purchase of the farm, which is located on Spot Road. According to the county's attorney, Kate Mckenzie, the closing on the deal is scheduled to take place today,

The land, which is being bought with money raised from Currituck's tourism-derived occupancy tax, will be used for an equine-related attraction, while water activities such as canoeing are likely to take place on Currituck Sound.

The commissioners supporting the project said it will provide a vital recreational center and become an income-earner for the county at a time when lower Currituck is seeing rapid development.

But Commissioner Ernie Bowden, who voted against the purchase, was unhappy with the expenditure.

Bowden unsuccessfully urged commissioners Monday night to defer making a decision until Paul O'Neal, the absent board chairman, could be present for the vote. O'Neal represents Poplar Branch Township, which includes the Harbinger area.

Bowden also made reference to "problems with this proposal," although he did not elaborate on the nature of his concerns.

"I had a lengthy conversation with the county attorney last Thursday. ... After that conversation, my concerns were not really allayed but they were reinforced," he said. "I would not buy this piece of property for myself and very frankly I couldn't vote to buy it for the county."

McKenzie said Tuesday that Bowden's concerns included proper access, but added that any outstanding issues have been sorted out. Bowden did not return calls Tuesday for comment on this story.

The land is being acquired from landowners Robert and Laurie DeGabrielle, who originally sought $3.78 million for the property.

"We paid $3.2 million because of a charitable contribution from the DeGabrielles," McKenzie said.

The property includes two houses, two sets of stables and an indoor-and-outdoor arena for the showing of horses. McKenzie also said there are some wetlands on the property.

Board of Commissioners Vice Chairman Paul Martin, who chaired Monday's meeting in O'Neal's absence, said the purchase represented a good value for the money. Additionally, Martin said if the county had not stepped in, the property would have likely have been sold off for more housing.

"We have secured that land before that part of Currituck was built up," he said. "If the county had not bought it, we would have had another development."

According to Martin, once the center is built the equestrian events that can be held there will provide a considerable economic boost to lower Currituck.

"Every horse trailer puts something like $500 a day to boost the local economy," he said. "We'll win whichever way you look at it."

Martin said the water access afforded by the site also will allow public recreational activities such as canoeing to take place.

But Democrat Gene Gregory, a former county commissioner who is running against Martin in November's general election, branded the facility a waste of money.

"I don't think the county needs to be getting into the horse-farming business," Gregory said. "They seem to be going on an uncontrolled spending spree at the moment.

"I'm appalled that they've done this at. It's reckless at a time when they have identified $64 million that needs to go into schools over the next 10 years."

Gregory said the county would have been better off putting the money being spent on the land acquisition toward upgrading the capacity of Camden's water plant to offset Currituck's current water shortage.