By Chris Paul
After a number of months deliberating on the merits, the Town Council finally voted to move forward with the Conservation Commission’s proposal to purchase land that was once owned by the Lithia Springs Water Company off Nashua Road.
The council had been holding off making a decision until they could understand what may or may not be developed on the 54 acres of land. They also requested to see an appraisal of the land.
The land is currently owned by the Elwood family, of Elwood Orchards, and was purchased by them in 1949.
According to the Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated in May of this year, the purchase price will be $1.5 million.
The proposal call for the land to be held in perpetuity for conservation, agriculture and recreation purposes.
The appraisal came in at $2 million and Town Manager, Mike Malaguti, told the council the document suggested that, “this is a highly developable parcel that you can put a lot of development onto.”
Malaguti added that the town had received a number of letters in support of the purchase of the property.
The first councilor to speak was Deb Paul, who was all for moving forward with the purchase saying, “We’re buying this property to protect the wetlands around the buildable areas of the property.” She added that the property has significant wildlife connection lines. “I’m against putting a development on this piece of property.”
Councilor, Chad Franz, wanted to confirm that the money for the purchase would be coming from two sources. One would be through Conservation Commission funds and the other would be through a grant.
Malaguti responded that there were actually two grants being applied for and if for some reason, the town failed to get those grants, the town could opt out of the agreement. He added that the Conservation Commission’s Land Acquisition Funds, which comes from land use change taxes.
Marge Badois, the Chair of the Conservation Commission, spoke in favor of the purchase, “This property is exceptional on many levels. It’s environmental, historical and ecological. It would be one of our top acquisitions.”
She reiterated that there is no taxpayer money being used for the purchase and mentioned there are also many endangered species living there including some osprey.
Resident, Daniel Bouchard, asked the council what would happen if the grant funding aspect does not go through. He felt that if the remaining balance went to the voters it would more than likely pass as a Warrant Article.
Council Chair, John Farrell, thought that there wouldn’t be enough time at that point to get the acquisition done.
It was also pointed out that at the time of the meeting, the Conservation Commission has $780,000 in their account and he was thinking there would be another $200,000 added to the account this fall, leaving a grant amount of roughly $600,000 needed for the purchase.
It was also stated that the sellers really want the purchase to happen, so if the total money for the purchase isn’t raised by the end of the year, the contract would need to be amended.
Both Wayland Elwood and his attorney were present at the meeting and told the town they have every reason to work with the town, as long as the land is to be conserved.
Malaguti added “He should be commended for letting the property go for less than its worth.”
Ann Chiampa spoke on behalf of the Londonderry Historical Society and said the society took a vote recently and were in 100 percent agreement on purchasing the property.
With that, the council voted unanimously to move forward with the purchase.