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Conservation commission outlines steps to secure Forest Preserve; will seek town approvals to meet LMF grant conditions
Summary
At its meeting the Conservation Commission reviewed GPS-based boundary marking for the Forest Preserve, reported a $5,000 donation routed to the George River Trust, and said it will seek special-town-meeting approvals on March 10 for deed language and restriction changes required by LMF before an appraisal can proceed.
Katherine, speaking during the Forest Preserve update, told the Conservation Commission the group now has GPS coordinates tied to survey reference points and needs to decide whether to buy a handheld GPS unit or rely on professional equipment to mark the preserve boundary. She also reported a donor had given $5,000 that has been routed to the George River Trust to help cover appraisal and environmental-survey work.
The details matter for an LMF grant application. Katherine said LMF staff have told the commission they "do not want any public access restriction on the preserve" and that the commission must resolve access and easement language before LMF will proceed with appraisal and grant paperwork. To address that sequencing, the commission plans to ask the select board and town meeting for two approvals at a special town meeting scheduled for March 10: (1) revised restrictions on a parcel so they match other restricted parcels and (2) authorization for the select board to provide a right-of-way easement for public access, with reasonable conditions if required to qualify for the grant.
Commissioners discussed appraisal logistics. Members said contacting an appraiser proved challenging; Katherine reported reaching Jesse Studley, who will need draft deed language and other documents to provide a provisional or "as if" appraisal that assumes the deeds will be executed. The group agreed to prepare and circulate draft deeds so the appraiser can estimate value now and provide a final appraisal once deeds are recorded.
On marking the boundary, the commission discussed the trade-offs between purchasing a consumer handheld GPS device (members cited models in the roughly $350 range) versus relying on professional-grade instruments. Leticia Van Buren was identified as the Knox County GIS expert who can advise; Maren Grandstrom had offered to help on the ground. Members noted phone-based coordinates lack the precision needed for small-scale parcel work and favored using precise instruments or a professional if the commission cannot secure the right device.
Funding and next steps: commissioners estimated a small immediate need (Katherine recalled an approximate $1,700 figure to pay for blazing work) and confirmed the $5,000 donation would be encumbered toward appraisal and environmental-survey work held by George River Trust. The group agreed the immediate priorities are: finalize draft deed language, provide materials to the appraiser for a provisional appraisal, and put the two items on the March 10 special-town-meeting warrant so the commission can meet LMF's conditions.
The commission did not vote on any of these items at the meeting; members directed staff and volunteers to prepare the draft deeds and to follow up with the appraiser and LMF legal guidance. The commission also discussed stewardship-grant possibilities separately and deferred those until the appraisal and deed-sequencing work are complete.
