This land is one of the last remaining open spaces in the town, said Steven Atkins, whose home abuts the site.

A suit by one developer charges that the decision was made to protect the homes of the Mayor and two town council members whose homes abut the sites.

Private Security Perhaps those with the most palpable jitters are the handful of families whose homes abut the concert site.

"We love it here, but this is also very isolated," said Mrs. Logan, gesturing toward the 400-acre wetland preserve that abuts their home, one of only three on the point.

Mr. Gurwicz said he stayed the course through the long approval process because he felt "homes abutting golf courses is a lasting trend."

These shared spaces are communally used and managed only by the residents whose homes abut them.

Residents whose homes abut several auto dealerships in the area supported the decision, but, according to Thomas Ragland, a commission member who favored the deck, "it was not a unanimous vote."

Of course the Forchellis, whose home abuts the Creek Club's golf course, which during winter becomes a skeet range, realize their solitude may be only temporary.

"I'm so stupid, I thought they were just late," said Sarah Messenger, whose 19th-century home abuts the common.

Janis Rich, whose home abuts the turnpike a quarter mile from where the bodies were found, said she and her husband were awakened by "loud pops" just before 2:30 a.m.