Conservation commission seeks easement on Poland Range woodlots; land trust backs proposal

The Pownal Conservation Commission asked the Select Board to advance a proposal to place several contiguous town-owned woodlots in the Poland Range Road area under a conservation easement similar to the Elmwood Road easement.

Conservation Commission Chair Bob Van Milligan said the easement’s primary purposes would be protecting wildlife habitat, green space and portions of the town’s aquifer. Van Milligan said the Town would retain ownership and the easement would be modeled on previous town agreements; selective timber cutting for revenue would remain possible under the proposed terms. "We plan for this to be a no maintenance deal," Van Milligan said, explaining the Commission does not want ongoing maintenance costs for trails and boardwalks.

Chris Franklin, Executive Director of the Royal River Land Trust, told the board the parcel is strategically valuable for watershed protection and habitat, and that the Land Trust is willing to provide technical assistance without expecting financial benefit. An abutter, Fire Chief Jesse Peters, asked about changes to current uses; Van Milligan said lay-down yard acreage used for road construction storage would be excluded from the easement and that a snowmobile trail crossing the property would likely continue to be maintained by the snowmobile club. Franklin recommended the town reserve the right to add trails in future if circumstances change.

Chair Jon Morris summarized the process: the Conservation Commission will develop a formal proposal for the Select Board, the board would hold two public hearings, and—if favorable—the matter would be placed on the town meeting warrant for a vote, with warrant signatures typically occurring in May.