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Merrimack council advances $1.9 million warrant article to buy 61 acres for possible safety complex and fields
Summary
After a public hearing with mixed reactions on taxes and park space, the council voted unanimously to place a $1.9 million land-purchase warrant article on the ballot that would acquire roughly 61 acres (with options on adjacent parcels) for future town uses including a safety complex and athletic fields.
The Merrimack Town Council voted unanimously on Feb. 12 to recommend and send to the deliberative session a warrant article proposing the town raise and appropriate $1,900,000 to purchase approximately 61.4 acres identified on tax map 5D-2/10 and 5D-2/9.
Town staff described the parcel as centrally located, adjacent to the Merrimack River and existing recreation corridors, and said the land could accommodate a future public safety complex, athletic fields and walking trails. Paul, the town manager, told the council the parcel has been under review for years and presented two bond-repayment scenarios: a 10-year bond with an estimated first-year impact of roughly $0.42 per typical single-family home and a 5-year option with slightly higher short-term impacts.
Supporters who spoke at the public hearing urged the council to buy the land now to prevent potential high-density development. "You don't get new land — once it's gone, it's gone," Deborah Huffman said, calling the parcel a "bargain" and citing its connectivity to local parks and schools. Chuck Moore also urged purchase, praising the council's long-term financial planning. Other residents said they understood the reasons but worried about immediate tax pressures and long-term maintenance costs, asking whether conservation funds or renovation of existing stations had been fully considered.
Councilors stressed that the warrant article would cover only the land purchase and that any future buildings or bonds to construct a safety complex would require separate voter approval. Councilor Peter emphasized years of study by the town building committee and said buying the land was a necessary first step to preserve options. The motion to send the article to the warrant passed 7-0.
Next steps: the article will appear on the town warrant for voters at the annual meeting; if the land purchase is approved, future proposals for buildings or athletic fields would be separate warrant questions and would require further public review.
