Four months after a prominent Little Compton family first pitched a new subdivision on West Main Road, representatives were back before the planning board Tuesday with an updated proposal that includes five housing lots a promise that it will comply with the town’s affordable housing ordinance.

The 26.9-acre property at 571 West Main Road is owned by the J. William Middendorf II Revocable Trust and is assessed by the town at nearly $4.18 million.

When they first appeared before the board in early January, representatives proposed four housing lots, two directly fronting the Sakonnet River, and two open space lots to the north.

That plan was controversial because the town’s affordable housing ordinance stipulates that any development of five or more lots must set aside 20 percent of them for affordable housing, though the ordinance’s definition of ‘lot’ does not specify whether undeveloped lots count toward that total.

However, if no affordable lots are provided for, applicants can also donate land of similar value to the town or a non-profit housing provider, or pay a fee equal to 20 percent of the land’s assessed value.

Engineer Bill Smith assured board members Tuesday that as the project moves forward, the Middendorf family will comply with the affordable housing ordinance, though “that may not mean that one of these lots are affordable.”

He said representatives will present their plan to comply with the ordinance when they submit a formal development plan — currently, the project is still in the pre-application phase.