SHARON, MA-Rattlesnake Hill, a 347-acre parcel here off Mountain Street, has long been a source of contention in this town. Some residents want to see the site preserved as open space while others are lobbying development that would provide the 95% residential community with additional tax revenue.
The most recent–and probably most controversial–plan for the site is to have the town seize the land by eminent domain. The plan was sponsored by the town's conservation commission and will be considered by the board of selectmen. According to Benjamin Puritz, the town administrator, the land can be taken if it will be used for a “proper purpose” such as open space, water supply, roadway purposes or development. The article would have to be voted on in town meeting, which would then authorize the board of selectman to execute the acquisition.
Puritz tells GlobeSt.com that the board of selectmen has not taken a position yet on the article. But judging from the town's history with this site it will clearly not be a simple decision.
The parcel is owned by the Striar family, which had wanted to develop senior housing and a golf course on the site. But the town proposed purchasing the land instead. Town Meeting approved a $12 million override for the purchase but the proposal, which sparked intense debate among local conservationists, residents and town officials, was defeated at the polls. This past December, a zoning bylaw was passed at Town Meeting that would allow a golf course to be developed on the property. Reportedly, the zoning change was passed in the hope that this would limit the number of residential units the developers would develop on the property.
Puritz notes that if the Striar family contests the amount the town offers for the site, the proposal will end up in the courts. The board of selectman will take a position on the article within three weeks.
Want to continue reading?
Become a Free ALM Digital Reader.
Once you are an ALM Digital Member, you’ll receive:
- Breaking commercial real estate news and analysis, on-site and via our newsletters and custom alerts
- Educational webcasts, white papers, and ebooks from industry thought leaders
- Critical coverage of the property casualty insurance and financial advisory markets on our other ALM sites, PropertyCasualty360 and ThinkAdvisor
Already have an account? Sign In Now
*May exclude premium content© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
