NORTHBOROUGH/SOUTHBOROUGH – The Sudbury Valley Trust recently accepted conservation restrictions in Northborough and Southborough after working with local governments to preserve a pair of properties in those towns.
Southborough granted a conservation restriction to the Sudbury Valley Trust on Aug. 25.
That decision came two years after Southborough used Community Preservation Act funds to purchase the Halloran property off Rockpoint Road in 2018. That property spans 30 acres and includes streams and wetlands while providing a habitat for wildlife. It also abuts other conservation land on Hubley Lane.
The use of CPA funds meant Southborough was required to place a conservation restriction on the property to make sure that it wouldn’t be developed and that it would remain in its natural state.
By law, that restriction has to be held by a third party such as the Sudbury Valley Trust.
“We’re so pleased to be able to protect this important piece of land for the residents of Southborough and future generations,” the Southborough Conservation Commission said in a statement. “We are deeply grateful to the Halloran Family for their generosity in working with the Town to make this possible and to our partners for bringing it over the finish line.”
In Northborough, the trust collaborated with town officials to protect just over 19 acres of land on the rear of 615 Howard St. on the eastern face of Mount Pisgah.
The town purchased the land from the Bennett family in 2019 using CPA funds. Northborough then granted a conservation restriction on the tract to the trust.
In addition to monitoring its other 93 conservation restrictions on land in the region, the Sudbury Valley Trust will be responsible for monitoring these new Northborough and Southborough restrictions.
“These [conservation restrictions] are an important part of making sure that public land set aside for conservation is protected in perpetuity,” said Christa Collins, who is Sudbury Valley Trust’s director of land protection. “We are so grateful for the foresight of municipal leaders and residents in purchasing these properties for passive recreation, wildlife habitat, water quality protection and the many other benefits they provide.”
