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Sherborn backs expanding Land Acquisition Committee charge to track Chapter 61 holdings
Summary
The Select Board and Advisory Committee recommended favorable action on Article 14 to expand the Land Acquisition Committee’s duties to maintain databases of Chapter 61 properties (about 1,998 acres, ~20% of town land) and evaluate small town‑owned parcels; officials debated whether the Town Planner or the committee should maintain the data.
Select Board member Marion Neutra proposed and the boards supported expanding the Land Acquisition Committee’s charge to create and maintain up‑to‑date information on Chapter 61 properties and smaller town‑owned parcels at the March 21 joint hearing. Proponents said timely, accurate data is essential to exercise rights of first refusal when properties change use; the hearing cited a total of roughly 1,998 acres in Chapter 61 status, representing about 20% of the town’s land area.
Ms. Neutra framed the change as an effort to centralize publicly available information so decision makers can act quickly. Some residents and advisory members asked whether the Assessor’s Office or the Town Planner should manage the dataset; Town Planner Heidi Doyle said the Town Planner’s office could oversee the work while drawing on inputs from Conservation, Recreation, the Assessor and other town departments. Conservation Commission member Michael Lesser and residents voiced support for maintaining a robust, shared repository to inform timely decisions.
The Advisory Committee moved, seconded and passed a favorable recommendation on Article 14 (8–0); the Select Board also voted unanimously to support the article.
