LYNNFIELD — A $1.6 million grant awarded to the town this week by the Baker-Polito Administration could be used to purchase the Richardson Green parcel for conservation, if the acquisition is approved by the Lynnfield Select Board.
To make the purchase possible, the town would still have to raise additional funding beyond what was awarded through the state grant in order to match the price that’s under agreement with a private developer seeking to build residential housing at the site.
“It was extremely exciting,” said Emilie Cadamarti, Lynnfield’s director of planning and conservation, about Tuesday’s grant announcement. “It was very rewarding to get that. The grant application process is extremely competitive.”
The state recognized the importance of the acquisition and gave the maximum amount they could, said Cadamarti. At $1,638,750, the grant is the third largest awarded in the state.
This grant was possible because Lynnfield is part of the Commonwealth’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) grant program. The program provides support for cities and towns to begin the process of planning for climate change resiliency and implementing priority projects.
Lynnfield became an MVP community in 2020, which allowed the town to apply for an action grant for the Richardson Green parcel as an action item that was identified in the town’s MVP plan.
Lynnfield would like to include a 20-acre Richardson Green parcel into the Willis Woods project, which would create direct access to the woods from Main Street. The town has been working on the preservation of 500 acres of land adjacent to the Ipswich River — called Willis Woods — together with Middleton, North Reading and Peabody.
Preservation of these undeveloped lands would allow for the creation of a large, connected wooded-trail network and provide access to the Ipswich River.
Currently, Willis Woods consists of various conservation-owned properties, municipal water district lands, and large privately-owned parcels.
The problem with Richardson Green is that it is currently unprotected and belongs to the Richardson family from Middleton. It is also under an agreement right now with a private developer for $2.7 million, who plans to build residential housing at the site.
Development of that property would require the usage of public water or construction of private wells, which would put more strain on an already stressed existing water supply, said Cadamarti.
The large intact forest also absorbs carbon dioxide emissions, provides a cooling effect and yields habitat for animals. The proposed development would cause a loss of more than 3,200 trees.
The Town of Lynnfield has a chance under Chapter 61B of the state law to exercise its right of first refusal, which means the right to match the offer and buy the property or refuse the opportunity. However, without the grant, the current price of the lot at $2.7 million was insurmountable for the town.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to the extension of the timeline for Chapter 61B process and the town was able to pursue more grants to get further along to the possibility of the purchase.
The nonprofit land trust, Essex County Greenbelt, has committed to raise $300,000 of private funding. The Lynnfield Conservation Commission has committed $200,000 from its land fund.
At this time, the town has to come up with $571,000 either from this year’s budget or through borrowing, said Cadamarti. The residents will likely have to vote on these two possibilities at a town meeting.
Essex County Greenbelt and Ipswich River Watershed Association were instrumental partners in the preservation of this area, Cadamarti said.
House Minority Leader Bradley Jones Jr. (R-North Reading) and state Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) were also among those who advocated in support of Lynnfield’s MVP grant application. Their offices helped organize and participated in a May 18 site visit with Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen A. Theoharides, according to a press release distributed by the Jones’ office.
“This land is critical to protecting Lynnfield’s water supply, but those protections would be seriously compromised by the proposed housing development,” said Jones. “This MVP grant is a testament to the many dedicated individuals who have been working tirelessly at the local level to ensure that Richardson Green is maintained as open space in perpetuity.”
“We thank Representative Jones for his constant advocacy for Lynnfield and this grant most certainly puts the town in an advantageous position as we consider the options before us,” said Select Board Chairman Dick Dalton.
Lynnfield will only be able to use the grant if the Select Board decides to purchase the Richardson Green parcel.
A town-wide survey, conducted in November 2020, found that more than 80 percent of respondents believe it is “very important” for the Richardson Green site to remain an undeveloped forested conservation land.
“This is not just to stop the [development] project. It is for the greater good,” said Cadamarti.
Alena Kuzub can be reached at [email protected].
