BLOCK ISLAND — It’s a slice of land that offers unfettered water views for diners sipping cocktails on the National Hotel porch, not to mention cyclists peddling through the island’s downtown.

And it will now belong to the town after island voters approved the $900,000 purchase of about 9,900 square feet of undeveloped property across Water Street from the Mohegan Café.

Block Islanders showed their support for the deal with a show of hands by a “hearty majority” of the 67 residents gathered at a Financial Town Meeting Tuesday, according to Town Clerk Fiona Fitzpatrick.

The land sits next to another 1.37 acres of waterfront that voters agreed to buy in August for $2.5 million. The purchases together place the entire strip of land from the Surf Hotel to a lot owned by the Interstate Navigation Co. in the town’s control.

“It’s a strategic little piece of property,” Fitzpatrick said.

While 19 entities owned the larger parcel, Marcia Merrick is selling the smaller lot. Both purchases will be paid for through the issuance of bonds.

“It’s an area we’ve wanted to control for a long time,” First Warden Kimberley H. Gaffett said yesterday.

The land is zoned commercial and has been identified as having high development potential, Gaffett said.

The town will now approach the Block Island Land Trust about purchasing easements to protect the property from development and to recoup some of the taxpayers’ costs, Gaffett said. It is also seeking a conservation grant it from the state Department of Environmental Management.

“The next step is to put restrictions on it,” she said.

The town could use a portion of the property to build a dinghy dock, she said, or voters could even move to sell it, if the town found itself in a financial pinch.

“I hope that doesn’t happen,” Gaffett said.

Tuesday’s purchase would add $5.60 to the annual tax bill of property assessed at $1 million.

Last month’s deal will add $39.20 to the annual tax bill for a $1-million property, Land said.

kmulvane@projo.com