Town council authorizes purchase of 70.2 acres on New Boston Road for conservation

The Bedford Town Council on Aug. 13 authorized the town manager to complete the purchase of approximately 70.2 acres of undeveloped land owned by Catherine M. Acorn off New Boston Road and to buy related parking and trail easements from Rebecca G. Acorn, a motion that passed unanimously, 5-0.

The acquisition will use up to $625,000 from the town conservation fund to buy two lots totaling about 70 acres for $525,000 and to buy a parking-and-trail easement for $50,000, plus closing costs including a property survey and boundary marking. Kathleen Portes, the town’s conservation planner, told the council the property “has been on our list of priority parcels for acquisitions since the town developed their 2009 open space plan,” and highlighted features that include approximately 1,800 feet of Bowman Brook, a pond, an old quarry and varied topography.

The purchase also requires two permanent easements: a parking-and-access easement on an adjacent lot owned by Rebecca Acorn and a donated trail easement across the back of a neighboring lot owned by the JJ Pecola and Elizabeth L. D. Revocable Trusts. Portes said the Conservation Commission held a public hearing on June 24 and voted to approve the request; one resident spoke in favor and none spoke against. Resident Sue Holstein of 33 Ministerial Branch spoke at the council public hearing and said, “I think this is a great acquisition. It’s wonderful to have the open space,” and asked that the town consider adding a conservation easement.

Council members asked how the acquisition would change the town’s total conserved acreage. Portes said the town currently holds a little over 800 core acres in conservation properties and that, depending on how smaller subdivision open-space parcels are counted, “I think it was like 12% or 14% of all the land is in conservation” in an earlier assessment. Councilors also asked about developable area if the parcel were not conserved; Portes said there are wetlands, steep slopes and stream corridors on the lots and that a yield plan exists but she did not have the exact number of potential lots at the council table.

Councilor Bemis moved the authorization; Councilor Bess seconded. The council then voted to accept the Pecola donation of a permanent trail-access easement and to authorize the town manager to complete necessary documents; that motion also passed 5-0. Portes said the property will be deed-restricted to prevent development.

What happens next: the town manager is authorized to finalize purchase and easement documents and to complete the closing. Portes said the purchase includes funding for the survey and boundary marking. Councilors noted email support from nearby property owners who could not attend.

The council’s vote authorizes acquisition of the land and purchase of the easement; it does not describe any further decisions about trail design or long-term management beyond the stated deed restriction and the donated trail easement.