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Lakeville open space committee flags 15‑acre parcel removed from Chapter 61; will notify town assessor
Summary
At its Oct. 2 meeting the Town of Lakeville Open Space Committee discussed a roughly 15‑acre parcel that appears to have lapsed out of Chapter 61 tax classification and agreed to notify the town administrator and interim assessor for follow‑up.
LAKEVILLE, Oct. 2 — The Town of Lakeville Open Space Committee discussed a privately owned, roughly 15‑acre parcel that appears to have lapsed out of Chapter 61 tax protection and agreed to notify the town administrator and the interim assessor so the town can determine next steps.
The committee’s chair reported the parcel, shown on the committee’s maps as within a priority protection area (PPA), appears to have come out of Chapter 61 after a transfer in early 2021 and an apparent expiration in December 2021. Committee members said the parcel has frontage on County Road and borders the town of Berkley.
Committee member Joan (last name not provided) described the parcel as “about 15 acres of vacant land” and said the assessor’s office had flagged the parcel as having an expired Chapter 61 agreement. The committee agreed the town assessor should notify the landowner to confirm whether the owner intends to refile for Chapter 61, and to pursue back taxes or reassessment if the tax incentive lapsed.
Committee members discussed that Chapter 61 provides a tax incentive for forest or agricultural land but does not itself create a permanent conservation restriction; owners may refile if they missed a deadline. The committee noted options if the owner declines to refile or to sell include outreach to conservation organizations, but also acknowledged that available town funds and Community Preservation Act (CPA) money are limited.
The chair said he would follow up with the interim assessor and the town administrator and report back at the committee’s next meeting. Committee members also said they would consult conservation officers and regional partners at an upcoming forest convention where regional land‑trust representatives and the DCR (Department of Conservation and Recreation) forester will be present.
The committee did not take a formal vote to acquire the property during the meeting; the action taken was to request administrative follow‑up and to clarify the parcel’s tax and conservation status.
Next steps: the committee will await a response from the assessor’s office and town administrator; the chair said he will report developments at the committee’s next meeting on Nov. 6.
Votes at a glance: The only formal recorded vote during the Oct. 2 meeting was approval of the Sept. 4 meeting minutes with a correction to the approval date. The minutes were approved unanimously on voice vote with the date correction.
