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Committee mulls uses for Weston Nurseries land
"If they do high density garden apartments, it'll be a disaster." ~ Eric Sonnett, member of committee and Chairman of the Hopkinton Board of Selectmen
by Robert Falcione March 9, 2005 — The Land Use Study Committee met this morning at 7:00 am to ponder actions the town can take to have a voice in the expected development of 615 acres of Weston Nurseries' land. (Previous story.) The land is being offered for sale by Cushman and Wakefield, a worldwide property company. Bids are to be in by March 15, 2005. At this morning's meeting, Town Planner, Elaine Lazarus said that several people, presumably developers, have called expressing interest in the land. Most or all of the land is agricultural and has been placed under Chapter 61A, according to committee members. Under this program, a parcel of land is taxed at a lower rate. When the land is removed from that designation, the owner must offer it to the municipality in a right of first refusal, in which the municipality gets to meet any legitimate offer received by owner. The committee pondered this morning several scenarios which could develop. The flow chart developed during the discussion can be viewed below. The map showing the parcels for sale can be viewed here. The entire process will be triggered by a purchase and sale agreement from a developer to the Mezitts, the family which owns the land, and also own Weston Nurseries. That would trigger a 120 day period during which the town would need to exercise its right of first refusal, if it saw fit to do so. Or it could pass on that option and let a developer go through the permitting process. Or it could exercise rights on part or parts of the parcel(s), of which there are five separate pieces totalling 615 acres. According to sources, 37 parcels were put under Chapter 61A at different times. And because of that, the town could conceivably choose any of those parcels separately for a right of first refusal. Other options put on the table were for the town to purchase the land for open space and infrastructure needs, such as schools and municipal buildings. The group also spoke of partnering with a developer or buying the property outright. Members of the committee are: Stuart Cowart Dave Stoldt, Chairman School Committee Andrew Branz, member School Committee Ed Beckett, developer Finley Perry, builder John Coolidge, Chairman of the Planning Board Eric Sonnett, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Nancy Peters, Chairman of the Board of Health Brian Morrison, Chairman of the Conservation Commission At-large At-large The at-large members are expected to be appointed at the next Selectmen's meeting. The deadline for offers to Cushman and Wakefield for the Mezitt property is March 15, 2005.
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