MIDDLEBORO — Plans for a 332 Marion Road facility to house vulnerable populations, including those who were formerly incarcerated, will be further considered by the Zoning Board Aug. 24, following a previous meeting with project organizers and neighbors that grew heated at times.

Jason McLeod, who owns the building with Meredith Ruff, said the house will provide vital training in job skills that will help residents rebuild their lives. 

Neighbors questioned at a July 13 meeting of the Zoning Board what security measures would be implemented and expressed concern for the safety of neighborhood children and for the potential impact on their property values. 

Much of the discussion centers around the actual purpose of the project. Proponents of the plan are seeking a permit under the Dover Amendment, a state law that exempts properties used for educational purposes, among other uses, from certain zoning regulations.

Some town officials and neighbors questioned how the project would qualify as an educational use. 

Building Commissioner Robert Whalen said the project does not fit the designation and noted that, in his inspection, he observed “wall to wall bunk beds’’ and no evidence of classrooms. “The place consisted of … bathrooms and bedrooms.’’

Ruff said that areas of the building would be transformed from eating quarters to classroom venues during the day and that there is additional space upstairs for more learning space. 

Project attorney Daniel Johnston said the Dover amendment definition of educational purposes is “quite broad’’ and that the program will also offer off-site training.

Several supporters said that similar programs have allowed them to turn their lives around after battles with addiction and time in prison. 

But town attorney Jonathan D. Whitten said the permit application for the project lacks specifics. 

Questions were raised about the exact number of people who will live there and what educational plan will be in place. 

Neighbor Robert Ricci said that allowing a facility in the rural residential area “will be a huge mistake.’’ The site would be “better suited’’ to a location with “police, transportation, medical and other facilities nearby.’’ He questioned how residents would get to off-site programs if they don’t have cars.

Board member Liz Elgosin said she worked as a librarian in Department of Corrections facilities, and agrees with the importance of education, But, she said, the Marion Road facility would be “quite a ways from civilization,’’ she said, and “I’ve heard nothing about how are we transporting people from Point A to Point B. ‘’

She said the proposal includes a lot of “words that are not defined’’ and said she has seen “jail cells that are more attractive than this.’’ 

Fellow board member Edward Braun, who noted he has a background in education, said he is concerned about the “lack of curriculum’’ in the proposal. 

Neighbor Karen Howland said the proposal may have been created “with good intentions’’ but plans were not filed correctly. 

Neighbor Darlene Kingston said she respected the plan’s goals but “there is not enough room for education’’ in the building. She expressed concern that this could be “a backdoor way to a boarding house.’’ 

McLeod said the project could help people restructure their lives.  With a similar program, he said, “I was able to turn my situation around.’’