Needham officials pitch purchase of 10 acres on Cartwright Road; CPC asked for $300,000

Town Manager Katie King told the Needham Community Preservation Committee on March 4 that the town has negotiated a purchase and sale to acquire 10 acres on Cartwright Road for open space, at a total price of $800,000.

"If funding is approved and town meeting approves of the acquisition, the town would go through the process with the planning board to divide the parcel into two," Katie King said, describing a seller‑retained two‑acre frontage and a town acquisition of the remaining 10 acres (assessor map 219 Block 0019). King said $500,000 would be funded by conservation commission resources already under that board's control, and the CPC was being asked to consider the remaining $300,000 from open‑space reserves.

The request drew both pragmatic support and procedural questions. Reg Foster, a committee member, said parts of the parcel appear developable and could be worth "much, much more than the $800,000 that was negotiated," while others emphasized the conservation value of completing the Ridge Hill holdings. "It will complete the jigsaw puzzle kind of a thing for Ridge Hill," Chair Dave Vero said, arguing the parcel fills a missing piece of adjacent conserved land.

Committee members asked staff to prepare maps and a short presentation for a public hearing next week so neighbors and other stakeholders can comment. King said she could present and would provide maps for the hearing. Committee members also noted a neighbor inquiry about privately purchasing the two‑acre frontage the seller would retain.

Next steps: the CPC will hold the advertised public hearing next week, receive public comment and then continue deliberations; members asked staff to circulate application materials and the map in advance so the public and committee can review them before town meeting.