Hubbardston assessors review Chapter 61 land applications, flag consistency and posting questions

The Board of Assessors in the Town of Hubbardston spent the bulk of the meeting reviewing Chapter 61 applications and discussing how the town has applied program rules in recent years.

Board members and staff reviewed multiple 61A (agricultural), 61B (open-space/recreation) and 61 (forestry) applications and flagged several recurring policy questions: whether the town should continue the practice of subtracting a residential "zoning lot" from enrolled acreage, how the board should treat applications that report more than 50% nonproductive land, and when posting of Chapter 61B parcels limits public access.

Why it matters: Chapter 61 classifications affect tax assessments and public access rights. Changes in local practice can alter tax burdens and recreational access for neighbors and hunters, and can affect whether large parcels qualify for preferential tax treatment.

Staff began the section by presenting a batch of applications and repeatedly told the board, "Everything looks good, and I am confident in accepting granting all of it," when recommending approval of straightforward filings, including an application from the Pinecrest Property Association related to its clubhouse. (Staff…