WATERVILLE — The City Council on Tuesday took the first of three needed votes to become part-owner of 62 acres abutting Robert A. LaFleur Municipal Airport.

Councilors voted to spend up to $247,500 from the city’s undesignated fund for the land.

City Manager Michael Roy said earlier this week that the Waterville Development Corp. bought the land last week and the city wants to buy into that project.

Roy said the land would be beneficial for airport expansion and could be developed for businesses. The city also could build an access road from the site to Webb Road, he said. Some of the land abuts Interstate 95.

In other matters, councilors voted to refer to the Planning Board a request to amend the zoning ordinance to allow residents, under certain conditions, to keep up to six laying hens on their properties. The council voted in January 2010 to approve the zone change, but then-Mayor Paul LePage vetoed the decision, saying there was a lot of opposition to the proposal.

The council Tuesday also voted to refer to the Planning Board a request by Herb Goudreau to amend the zoning ordinance to allow additional uses, specifically meal service and a beauty parlor, in multifamily developments. Goudreau wants to build an apartment building behind Goudreau’s Retirement Inn at 110 College Avenue.

Additionally, councilors voted to refer to the Planning Board a request by Paul Lussier to amend the zoning ordinance to allow for rezoning a parcel off Fieldstone Drive, part of which would be the site of a condominium project.

Councilors voted to support a plan by Thomas College to build a solar panel on the roof of the Harold Alfond Athletic Center.

They also approved food, liquor and outdoor dining licenses for Fred and Amy Ouellette, who said they plan to buy the Last Unicorn Restaurant on Silver Street downtown and reopen it in about a month.

Amy Calder — 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com