Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Open Space Acquisition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tiverton secures option on 48 acres via conservation easement; council already committed $1 million
Summary
After more than two decades of work, the town announced a pending conservation easement over about 48 acres of the Hicks property on Main Road; the town has committed $1 million from its open-space fund and must raise the balance of roughly $1.7 million to complete the purchase.
Tiverton officials announced at the March 24 meeting that the Hicks family has agreed to convey a conservation easement over about 48 acres of their Main Road property, preserving the western portion of the parcel — including roughly 1,200 feet of waterfront — as protected open space.
Open Space Commission Chair Brian Janes said the easement would protect the land in perpetuity, preserve public access once a trail system is developed, and keep the eastern, commercially oriented portion of the property outside the conservation area. The purchase price for the easement is $2,630,000 based on a professional appraisal; officials estimated closing costs and associated legal and survey fees could add about $100,000, bringing the total to roughly $2.7 million.
The Town Council has committed $1 million from the restricted Open Space Acquisition Fund toward the purchase. Janes said the balance — approximately $1.7 million — must be raised through public grants, private foundations, businesses and private donors; the town has until March 31, 2026, to make funds available to close the transaction.
The agreement includes a right of first refusal for the town and the land trust should the owners decide to sell any remaining interest in the parcel. Janes said the easement does not preclude public access but that trails and related access will be planned and developed over time.
Why it matters: The proposed easement preserves a large contiguous area of waterfront and upland open space within Tiverton and represents a substantial financial and conservation commitment by the town and local partners.
What’s next: The town has posted purchase-and-sale materials to be available for public review; Open Space Commission representatives said they will seek grants and private fundraising to cover the remaining balance and finalize closing by March 31, 2026.
