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Select Board approves perpetual conservation restriction on ~32 acres with North County Land Trust
Summary
The board approved a perpetual conservation restriction on roughly 32 acres on Gardner Cutoff Road, to be held by North County Land Trust; the restriction protects headwater resources, connects conserved lands, preserves passive recreation, and imposes no maintenance obligations on the town.
The Select Board voted Nov. 17 to approve a perpetual conservation restriction (CR) on about 32 acres along Gardner Cutoff Road. Anna Wilkins, director of conservation and climate for North County Land Trust, described the proposal as protecting sensitive headwater resources, expanding connections to existing conserved lands and preserving passive recreational access. She told the board the property would remain private and taxable and that North County Land Trust would hold and enforce the restriction.
"The CR protects sensitive headwater resources, expands connected conservation lands, and preserves passive recreational access," Wilkins said. She explained the conservation process: once the restriction is approved at the state level, local signatures are gathered and the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs signs and records the instrument.
Board members asked practical questions about public access, signage and enforcement; Wilkins and a Bracko family representative said current informal trails connect to nearby DCR watershed trails and that signage and trail connections would be considered but the landowner retains discretion. The board noted the town assumes no maintenance or enforcement obligations under the restriction. The board voted to approve the conservation restriction and authorized the chair to sign the document.
