Hubbardston assessors signed renewals for multiple properties seeking classification under Chapter 61 during their meeting, approving most applications, granting smaller acreage than requested in some cases and denying one application.

Town staff said the office had reviewed the Chapter 61 submissions and presented a stack of properties for signatures, noting one parcel did not qualify and several had stipulations. "These are all the Chapterlands that I have already reviewed," the staff member said as the list was presented for signing.

Approvals included: 30–32 High Street Realty Trust, 28 High Street (8.21 acres); Christopher Barnard, two parcels at Halfry Road and 65 Old Boston Turnpike (both Chapter 61B); Chris Bachelor, 143 Mount Jefferson Road (5 acres of blueberry production); Matthew Cludier, 6 Underwood Road (29.19 acres); John Cook, parcel off Underwood Road (61.6 acres); Patrick Gerard, parcel off Ragged Hill Road (20.53 acres, Chapter 61B recreation); John Ulette, two parcels on Lombard Road (15.18 acres and 145.6 acres, Chapter 61B); Matthew Hopkinson, 34 Twin Hill Road (9.46 acres); Bella Caldera, 12 Simontail Road (13.5 acres); Judith and Bradfield Lyon, 145 Old Westminster (17.07 acres, Chapter 61B); Steven Ritchie, Simon Hill Road parcel (14.41 acres, Chapter 61B); Vincent and Rosemary Ritchie, two parcels on Simon Hill Road and Clark Road (18.18 and 24 acres, Chapter 61B); Francois Steiger, 65 Hedville Road (7.26 acres, Chapter 61B); Paul and Angelina Stoll, 5 Lombard Road (22.56 acres, Chapter 61B).

The board reduced the acreage approved for a blueberry operation at 147 Mount Jefferson Road (the Lanes) from a previous approval of 81.16 acres to 78 acres because the applicants accounted for only 78 acres in their calculations. Staff also said Linda Grisboys’ forestry parcel at 10 Ragged Hill Road would be approved for 23 acres of the 23.8 she reported, consistent with the forestry plan submitted.

One application was denied in full: Gregory and Ariana Lavaglio’s application was denied because they did not meet acreage requirements and had not accounted for their house in their filing; staff said they had been approved previously only because the board had not acted within an allotted timeframe.

Staff said approved applicants will receive notices that explain what was approved and what acreage they should show on future filings. The assessor’s office said additional Chapter 61 applications continue to arrive because mailings went out late this year; the board will review another round at a future meeting.

Several assessors asked for property addresses and clarifications about a small number of group homes and other parcels that had been discussed informally over the past year; staff said they would assemble formal notices and supporting materials.

The chapter land renewals were presented to the board for signature; the meeting record does not show a formal roll-call vote or a recorded mover/second for each signature, but staff indicated the forms were signed at the meeting.