Warner conservation commission declines to take position on small DOT surplus lot tied to rail‑trail access

The Warner Conservation Commission reviewed a small, long and narrow Department of Transportation (DOT) surplus parcel (Map 28, Lot 33) that fronts Route 103 and could provide a brief connection from the road down to the railroad grade and the rail trail.

Tim Blagdon described the lot as a deep gully with little buildable area and said the southern end of the parcel comes out at grade near the road and railroad grade. "I would say no fill is required because ... the southern 20 feet are at grade," Tim said when explaining how the lot would connect to the rail trail.

Nancy summarized the selectmen’s preliminary positions and asked whether the conservation commission saw conservation value in the parcel. Several members said they did not see significant conservation value. After a short discussion, a member moved that the commission take no position on whether the town should purchase the parcel from the state because the commission did not see clear conservation value. The motion was approved by voice vote; Nancy said she will inform the selectmen of the commission’s position.

The commission’s recommendation is advisory: the town retains the statutory option to decide whether to exercise a municipal purchase option. The commission noted potential minor procedural costs (surveying and a $10 first option fee for unbuildable state lots) and said that if the town or trail advocates want to pursue the parcel for rail‑trail connectivity, the practical considerations (survey cost, narrow shape, wet gully) should be addressed by the proponents and selectmen.