1967-Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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CONSERVATION COMMISSION wealth. The commission is one of 268 municipal conservation commissions in the Common- wealth. It is noteworthy that the degree of cooperation with and from other town boards is now high and is still increasing. Outstanding is the work of the planning board staff in developing a draft plan for open space acquisition, the general sentiment recognizing the need for and desire of a more rapid land acquisition program, and the narrowing of arguments to prices and methods of accomplishment now that the principle of intent is understood and accepted. It is appropriate to review some of these purposes here. Simply stated, a necessary cornerstone of a town environment that features the natural beauty and pleasures of open space, woods, streams, and ponds, interspersed among the industrially, commercially, and residentially developed areas, must be a land acquisition program. It is clear that the public must own some right to most of the land of interest in order to keep it open. It is also clear that Lexington's land acquisition program must be prosecuted and completed quickly, while the land is still open. Many hundreds of acres, preferably over a thousand acres, of the thou- sands still open in Lexington, should be purchased. More specifically, among the results we can have: Broad greenbelts, fairly well connected, several miles long, suitable in total and in part for many active and passive outdoor uses, including hiking, pic- nicking, bicycle riding, horseback riding, and even simply escaping from "modern progress" without leaving the town boundaries. Safeguarded wetlands, which regulate the flow of streams and minimize the incidence of flooded basements, cracked foundations, and town expense for flood control. Natural "centers of blocks in already built -up areas," which provide the amenities of nature to neighborhoods that might otherwise be without them. Safeguarded streams and streambanks, not ditched or buried in culverts, and accessible to the public. Continuation of farming, through sale- and - leaseback or through cash pay- ments and reduced taxes resulting from conservation easements. The commission has also bent its efforts to protect the town's natural resources in ways other than purchase. In one case, unfortunately, it was unsuccessful in its efforts to prevent the Massachusetts Department of Public Works from unnecessarily circumnavigating the hill at Peacock Farms with a Route 2 access road; however, intercession by the Massa- chusetts Department of Natural Resources at the commission's request did lead to a require- ment for creating some natural barriers by landscaping. Land Acquisition Projects and Financial Grants During the year significant actions were taken on several land acquisition projects. State grants in aid were received to defray twenty -five percent of the purchase costs of three parcels: (1) four acres on top of Whipple Hill, known as the Rossetti Land, (2) ten acres connecting the Swenson Farm with the town -owned Tower recreation land and Bowman School land, otherwise known as the "Church" land and formerly owned by the Trinity Covenant Church, and (3) eleven acres off Oak Street, comprised of back land of the West Farm. Final state aid approval was received on a fourth parcel of twenty -four acres located at Redcoat Lane and Hathaway Road, and connecting the Diamond Junior High School schoolyard with Willard's Woods. These state grants -in -aid are for fifty percent of the non - federal portion 25