Swampscott prepared to take land for rec trail

SWAMPSCOTT – After years of stalled negotiations with National Grid, plans for a proposed recreational trail in town are moving forward.In 2006, Town Meeting authorized selectmen to negotiate with National Grid or take by eminent domain property belonging to the utility company for a recreational trail through an old rail bed.Rail Trail Implementation Committee Chairman Roger Talcov said it is clear National Grid will not grant a recreational easement and if the project is to go forward it is necessary to take a recreational easement through the property by eminent domain.”We don’t expect National Grid to grant this easement,” he said. “We fully plan on taking a 10 foot recreational easement through the property. We will proceed with eminent domain to take this easement.”Talcov pointed out the committee is only looking for an easement to use the property for recreational purposes, not outright ownership and precedent has already been set for this type of easement.”We haven’t filed for eminent domain yet but we’re moving right along,” he said. “We expect to make an announcement regarding the project within the next six to eight weeks regarding the trail.”Talcov, who declined to elaborate on the upcoming announcement, said Mass Highway is now funding eminent domain roadway projects, which means the project could be eligible for state funding.”This clarification of Mass Highway policy was a big thing for us,” he said. “We may be able to go ahead and apply for funding over the next year.”Talcov said a new recreation trail would not happen overnight. He pointed out the Minuteman Trail, which runs from Cambridge to Lexington, took 18 years to develop and construction is finally underway on the Peabody Bikeway, which had been in the planning stages for 10 years.Not everyone is in favor of the trail, however. At numerous public meetings held over the last few years, opponents expressed concern about a loss of tax revenue to the town and some individuals said they believe a portion of the property on the proposed trail route belongs to private homeowners, not the utility company. Abutters have repeatedly voiced concern that a trail in that area would cause noise, littering, vandalism and security problems for the neighborhood.If it does come to fruition, the proposed 1.3-mile recreational trail would start at Walker Road and continue to the Swampscott/Marblehead line where it would intersect the Marblehead recreational trail.