Conservation commissioners approve city parcel as replacement for land taken by Route 79, Scaddling Street projects

Taunton City’s Conservation Commission voted Sept. 15 to accept a city‑owned parcel on Fisher Street as replacement land for two roadway projects that will take small fragments from conservation holdings.

City attorney (referred to in the record as Attorney Costa/Koster) told the commission the Route 79 drainage easement and the Scaddling Street bridge replacement together affect roughly 9,777 square feet of conservation land, with an appraised combined value of about $3,800. He proposed using assessor parcel 64‑295 — approximately 23,000 square feet along the 3‑Mile River — as a single replacement parcel that would be protected in perpetuity.

“Between the two projects, there’s a need to identify 9,777 square feet of replacement land,” the attorney said during his presentation, adding that the Fisher Street parcel contains wetlands and upland riverbank areas and would be recorded with a conservation restriction and a home‑rule petition to the municipal council.

Commissioners pressed for clarity on upland versus wetland acreage and on how the swap would satisfy the commission’s standard that replacement land be at least as valuable and protective as what is lost. One commissioner said she wanted to visit the site before voting; the attorney noted the parcel contains mature hardwoods, river frontage used for informal fishing access, and some knotweed along the road that masks its riverbank value.

The commission also discussed deed language and the legal mechanism to ensure perpetual protection. The attorney said the parcel would be recorded and protected by a conservation restriction and that the home‑rule petition to the municipal council would request authorization to accept the parcel as replacement land.

A motion to accept parcel 64‑295 as replacement land for the pieces being removed from the commission’s jurisdiction in connection with the Route 79 and Scaddling Street projects was moved, seconded and approved by the commission.

Next steps noted at the meeting include final mapping and wetlands/upland verification, drafting deed language or conservation restriction language specified to the commission’s satisfaction, and presentation of the home‑rule petition to the municipal council for final approval. The commission conditioned its support on confirmation that the parcel meets the commission’s upland/wetland and value criteria and on the municipal council approving the home‑rule petition.

(Transcript variances: the record refers to the roadway item using several spellings — “Scatting,” “Scaddling” and similar variants — and to the city attorney alternately as “Costa” and “Koster.” The commission’s final vote and procedural direction were recorded on Sept. 15.)

The commission is expected to forward the parcel recommendation to the municipal council and present supporting materials for the home‑rule petition.