By Genevieve Jinson, Community Reporter
Northborough – The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved at its June 11 meeting an agricultural preservation restriction and co-holder agreement for a 35-acre parcel of land located on Ball Street. The land has been leased to Tougas Family Farm for several years for agricultural purposes.
The agreement outlines the preservation of approximately 35 acres of land, roughly 20 of which are located in Northborough, to the New England Forestry Foundation. According to the agreement, the town's Conservation Commission fund will pay $70,000 to the New England Forestry Foundation and the commonwealth will pay the remaining $430,000 in order to preserve the land. The agreement outlines that the town will share joint ownership of the land with the commonwealth.
Appraisal of the land by the Department of Agriculture was in excess of $1 million; however, New England Forestry Foundation agreed to accept $500,000 in order to keep the land protected.
Town Engineer Fred Litchfield has been working with the Department of Agriculture, New England Forestry Foundation and Tougas Family Farm for nearly two years in order to preserve the land from development. A growing concern that the land could be developed prompted an inquiry into the preservation of the land.
“Their [New England Forestry Foundation] goal was not to have it be developed and so this works out quite well for them, Mr. Tougas, the town of Northborough, and the state,” Litchfield said.
Selectman Jeff Amberson commented on the town's purchase.
“We'se preserving 35 acres for $2,000 per acre, which is unbelievable,” he said. “It takes funds to be able to pull these kinds of deals off.” He then thanked the Conservation Commission and the other officials and groups who worked on the agreement.
The geography of the land makes it prime development land, Litchfield noted, adding “this parcel of land couldn's be easier to develop.”
Following the purchase of the land, agricultural rights will be sold to the Tougas Family Farm. The farm will continue to use the land for agricultural purposes and will pursue purchasing agricultural rights of the land later this year.