The Rochester Conservation Commission Tuesday night approved a plan for the town to acquire 42.41 acres on Featherbed Lane, but not before discussing whether it was a good idea.
The land is being donated to the town by property owners Bradford and Ruth Correia. The Select Board, which will make the ultimate decision as to whether the town should accept the donation, is proposing the Conservation Commission itself take ownership of the parcel.
Conservation Agent Merilee Kelly reported to the commission that the land is “a priority habitat” for wetlands species. It is listed as 70 percent wetlands.
Commission member Ben Bailey responded both with what he likes and doesn’t like about the plan. “It’s nice he (Brad Correia) is giving this to us,” he said. “It’s very generous. But he is taking it off our tax rolls.”
The town will lose that tax revenue money, he said. Land records available at the meeting showed the Correias paid $1,500 in property taxes this year.
Commission Chairman Chris Gerrior countered Bailey’s sentiments by noting that this type of acquisition is a way to add to the town’s preserved green space, an important goal in itself. Gerrior asked if the parcel is accessible from public ways. Kelly said it is definitely landlocked. However, there is a 6-foot pathway to the property from a public way, she said.
Town Counsel Blair Bailey, appearing via Zoom, clarified the pros and cons of such an acquisition even further.
“You are preserving it and preventing it from being developed,” Bailey said, indicating that more homes would mean more of a financial drain on town services. “The procedure here is the selectmen are asking your opinion. The final decision will be (with) the selectmen.”
The commission’s resulting approval vote was unanimous.
Blair Bailey then continued with the main reason he was attending the meeting. He reported progress with the battle between the town and 89 Box Turtle Drive. Blair Bailey said the town recently had a district court date with the attorney for the Box Turtle Drive owner. “I’m upbeat about the conversations we’ve had,” he said. “They are working on the plans the board wants to see.”
The commission’s violation order against 89 Box Turtle Drive in July was for clearing land too close to wetlands without a permit and not even trying to communicate with commission members to resolve the issue or submit a plan.
The Rochester Conservation Commission set its next meeting for Tuesday, November 15, at 7:00 pm at Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School, 476 North Avenue, in Rochester, also accessible via Zoom.
Rochester Conservation Commission
By Michael J. DeCicco