A proposal to build a summer performing arts stage near the Aquinnah Cliffs easily cleared its first hurdle at a special town meeting on Tuesday, despite strong resistance from some Wampanoag tribal representatives.

Two local men, Ted Cammann and Jim Glavin, are behind the move to use the natural amphitheatre within the circle near the Gay Head Light as a venue for concerts, theatrical and dance performances, children’s programs and other cultural events.

To that end, they have plans to erect a 50 foot by 30 foot stage, with roof, as well as associated infrastructure including toilets, fencing and power. But there would be no seating, and the whole structure would be put up in late spring and dismantled after the season. Capacity would be about 2,500 people.

The stage would be located where it was during last summer’s August music festival, roughly facing the lighthouse, on the lower side of the south-easterly part of the circle, with the audience facing Noman’s Land.

One of the proponents, Mr. Glavin, told the meeting that after the trial run of last summer’s festival they had thought to do something similar, on a permanent basis.

That experience had taught him that one-off events were not workable, he said, but a semi-permanent structure, hosting a series of maybe four to eight events each year could be viable.

He said he did not see the venture as a big money-maker. But it would attract more people to the town. All the costs would be carried by the proponents, but the selectmen would be involved in deciding what events would be staged, and the town would receive a cut of the proceeds.

He declined to answer questions seeking firm numbers on the costs and benefits, saying it could put the proposal at a disadvantage to any alternative proposals which might yet surface for the use of the area.

For the meeting was only discussing the first step in the process of opening the site. The warrant article under consideration simply sought town voters’ authorization for the board of selectmen to solicit proposals for the lease of “a portion of the Aquinnah Circle for purposes of constructing a performing arts staging structure.” Any actual lease would be contingent on a vote at another special town meeting, scheduled for May 12.

Given the short time available before that vote, though, it would seem unlikely that any alternative proposal would be forthcoming, a point made by some townspeople.

Indeed, the scheduling of this week’s meeting was to suit the timetable of the proponents. Three previous attempts at holding it, dating back to last October, had failed to raise a quorum of 39 votes. A version of the relevant article first appeared on the warrant in January, and the next attempt at getting a vote was to have been in April, but that would have been too late for Mr. Cammann and Mr. Glavin.

As well as Mr. Glavin’s oral presentation, those attending were given a 12-page booklet detailing the plan and extolling its cultural and economic benefits.

Yet there was resistance, most notably from two senior tribe figures, tribal chairman Cheryl Andrews-Maltais and tribal historic preservation officer Bettina Washington.

Ms. Washington expressed opposition starkly. She said the area was part of the Wampanoag tradition and culture extending back thousands of years.

“Our view is nothing goes there,” she said.

The vista out to Noman’s Land formed part of its oral history, the cliffs were a national landmark held in trust for the tribe by the government and “we take our responsibility very seriously.”

She warned townspeople: “Be very careful. You don’t want to put your soul for sale.”

The tone of her comments apparently irked some in the audience. Geoffrey (Spa) Tharpe said her language was divisive, separating the interests of the tribe from those of other townspeople.

Indeed, as the subsequent vote made clear, she did not speak for all tribe members. One of them, Jeffrey Madison, recalled that during his almost 60 years, there had been many structures in the circle — an inn, outhouses, a bandstand among them.

“The notion that there’s never been anything in the circle... is just not right,” he said.

He also argued that the proposed structure would not intrude greatly on the view and, if done right, could be a boon to expressions of Wampanoag culture.

To vote the proposal down at such a preliminary stage would be short-sighted, he said.

After a discussion which took up the greater part of the meeting, the issue was brought to a vote, and was approved by a 40-15 margin.

The other issue of contention on the night was an attempt by selectmen to set policy on the sale of blocks of land to which there was no access. They sought approval of a measure which would give preference to land owners who abutted and had established legal access rights, and who agreed not to grant access or easement right to third parties.

The reason for the measure, said selectman Camille Rose, was to stop people taking their neighbors to court for access.

In particular, selectmen were looking to one such landlocked block which they hoped to sell for some $600,000, from which proceeds they intended to pad the town’s stabilization fund by $238,000.

But the meeting was not convinced. Some opposition revolved around the prospect of using the block instead for affordable housing, and other opposition came from tribal figures, concerned that the land might have been taken from tribe members.

And so the selectmen were forced to abandon their plans.

The rest of the 14-article warrant consisted of minor financial housekeeping, with the exception of article four, which sought approval to petition to the state to legislate so selectmen might grant one-day beer and wine sales to nonprofit and civic organizations. It was passed.