Real Estate and Open Space Committee prioritizes Little Shaver Lane, urges prompt town action to protect wells

The Real Estate and Open Space Committee on July 17, 2026 agreed to keep the Little Shaver Lane parcel at the top of its acquisition list and recommended the town move quickly to protect the 19.76‑acre owners‑unknown tract that committee members said is important for water quality and well‑field protection.

Chair, presenting maps and assessor data, said the parcel now measures about 19.76 acres and “is on the tax rolls officially” as of July 1, meaning it is listed as an owners‑unknown taxable parcel and taxes can begin to accrue. The chair proposed continuing to treat Little Shaver Lane as the committee’s highest priority and to pursue eminent domain or other town‑led takings “as soon as possible” to prevent further parcel loss and protect water resources.

Brad Heino, who introduced himself as a not‑yet‑sworn member of the committee, outlined how the state process works for owners‑unknown parcels: putting the parcel on the tax roll creates a record of unpaid taxes that can enable tax foreclosure or a low‑value land process, and the legal standard for a “reasonable effort” to determine ownership has been relaxed. “You want to make it taxable so that there’s a record of unpaid taxes that then allows you to…foreclose on it,” Heino said.

Members discussed alternatives to town takings, including tax foreclosure, appraisal and escrow requirements, and possible funding sources. The committee noted that the town previously allocated $500,000 at town meeting (2022) to investigate owners‑unknown properties; committee materials show about $19,000 of that sum has been spent to date and roughly $480,000 remains available. The chair said KP Law had been hired to research several parcels and that the firm’s research on Little Shaver Lane and a related parcel cost about $2,700.

While Little Shaver was identified as the immediate priority, the committee also confirmed secondary priorities: parcels west of the Copelas area (to be coordinated with the Affordable Housing Trust and the town’s water/wastewater staff) and, at lower priority, the Jay Z Drive sandpit area where much land has been acquired by the Harwich Conservation Trust. Members agreed to consult the Harwich Conservation Trust and water‑department staff to verify habitat, wetland and recharge values before advancing additional takings.

As next steps, committee members asked staff to prepare a clear summary and a letter for the Board of Selectmen outlining the parcel’s status, prior research and the committee’s recommendation that the Selectmen consider swift action to protect the parcel. The committee set a tentative follow‑up for Aug. 21, 2026 and adjourned by voice vote.

The committee’s recommendation does not itself transfer title; it asks the Board of Selectmen and town staff to consider legal and financial steps — including appraisal, escrow and potential eminent domain — before any acquisition action is taken.