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Panel outlines conservation restriction for Blanca Meadows and says it would allow TESA field expansion
Summary
A Conservation Restriction (CR) committee presentation explained a proposed permanent conservation restriction for Blanca Meadows that would protect priority habitat and a well site while carving out space for a recreation complex and enabling TESA to expand fields and add limited parking; the CR will undergo MESA/EOEEA review and must be approved before final recording.
Members of the Conservation Restriction committee presented a draft conservation restriction for the Blanca Meadows property and described the state review process and local implications.
A committee representative explained that conservation restrictions (CRs) under Massachusetts General Laws (MGL) ch. 184, sections 31–33, are permanent, legally enforceable agreements to protect conservation values while permitting limited compatible uses. The draft CR being proposed would cover the property's priority habitat and well site while allowing a defined recreation complex footprint to support local soccer programming.
Selena Thomas, introduced during the meeting as present and later described as vice president of CASA, and a committee representative described how the CR would be reviewed by the Natural Heritage/MESA program and by the state executive office of energy and environmental affairs (EOEEA) because the CR will be held by North County Land Trust and the town is a municipal partner. The CR package will include baseline documentation and annual monitoring by the land trust to check for encroachment.
James Gates, representing TESA, told the board the leaseholder would be responsible for permitting the additional field area, parking and upkeep. "As the leaseholder, we would be responsible for permitting, the additional planning area, additional parking, and then the upkeep," Gates said.
Committee members emphasized the CR's dual goals: protect endangered-species habitat and groundwater/well resources while enabling a town recreation complex that consolidates town and travel soccer. The committee said the CR is currently out for MESA review and will go next to town counsel and EOEEA; the committee aims to complete state reviews before the federal/state deadlines later in the year.
The presentation was informational; no final town action on the CR was taken at this meeting. The committee adjourned its session and the planning board returned to its agenda.
