By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The town is inching closer to buying Richardson Green on upper Main Street.
The Select Board unanimously voted last week to continue a public hearing on purchasing the 20-acre parcel of land located at 1425 Main St. to Monday, Nov. 29. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Al Merritt Media and Cultural Center.
Richardson Green is classified as forestry land under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 61, which results in a reduction of property taxes as long as the land is not developed for residential use. Under Chapter 61, the town has the right to acquire the Richardson Green property or assign it to a nonprofit organization if the Select Board decides to exercise its right of first refusal.
Select Board Chairman Dick Dalton said the board intends to exercise its right of first refusal on Monday, Nov. 29 and the town will purchase Richardson Green for $2.7 million. He also said the board intends to assign the property to the Essex County Greenbelt Association.
“The town would obtain a Conservation Restriction from Essex County Greenbelt,” said Dalton. “The next step in this process is having the Select Board vote to assign this right once the legal documents are agreed upon by the town and Essex County Greenbelt.”
Town Administrator Rob Dolan echoed Dalton’s viewpoint in an interview with the Villager.
“It’s the board’s intention to vote on Monday,” said Dolan.
Patrice Lane resident Pat Campbell said the Select Board has a “fantastic opportunity to do a wonderful thing” by preserving Richardson Green.
Campbell recalled that the current funding plan for purchasing Richardson Green entails a $1,638,750 Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grant that was awarded by the state as well as $200,000 from the Conservation Commission’s Conservation Fund. Essex County Greenbelt has already raised the $300,000 it committed to raising for the land purchase, which included a donation from Campbell. She also noted that the remaining $571,250 that needs to be appropriated for the land purchase will come from funds from the American Rescue Plan Act that President Joe Biden signed into law earlier this year. The town has been awarded $3,885,490 from the ARPA.
“The purchase price of $2.7 million is a super bargain for the land,” said Campbell.
Campbell said preserving Richardson Green will help the town fight climate change at the local level.
“It will help increase climate resiliency,” said Campbell. “We already know climate change is a worldwide concern. It will help keep the temperature down and the air clear. It will help control flooding, preserve animal habitats and protect the Ipswich River Watershed.”
Campbell also said preserving Richardson Green will “protect the character of Lynnfield” and will teach children to “respect planet Earth.”
“All of the pieces are now in place,” said Campbell. “The consensus of the public, the money and the need. Please give this a positive vote.”
Attorney Jill Mann, who is representing the Richardson family, recalled that the family allowed Essex County Greenbelt to visit the 1425 Main St. parcel in the past.
“We are available to answer any questions from the board,” said Mann.
Essex County Greenbelt Land Conservation Director Chris LaPointe said it has been a pleasure working with local officials as part of the process for creating the Richardson Green funding plan.
“I want to thank the board, town staff and the various boards and committees for giving us the opportunity to put together a plan to acquire and protect the property,” said LaPointe. “We are incredibly grateful for the partnership with Lynnfield. We have a path forward with a funding plan that is fiscally responsible and a long-term management plan that makes sense. If successful, Essex County Greenbelt will own the property and will be responsible for managing it and maintaining it. The town will enforce conservation protections going forward. That is a partnership that has worked across Essex County and will work in Lynnfield.”
Dalton said the feeling was mutual.
“On behalf of the board and the town’s staff, I would like to thank you for all of the countless hours that you have put in,” said Dalton. “It has been a delight working with you. This is going to be a great accomplishment for the town.”
After the discussion, the Select Board voted to adjourn the public hearing until Monday, Nov. 29.
