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Epping landowner says hunting limits nonnegotiable as town weighs options
Summary
Christine Bruneault told the Epping Conservation Commission she will not remove proposed hunting restrictions on her Hunter Drive parcel; commissioners discussed conservation easements, removing recreational current-use designation, and town purchasing limits tied to Land Use Change Tax funds.
Christine Bruneault, the owner of a parcel on Hunter Drive, told the Town of Epping Conservation Commission on April 15 that she will not change her position on restricting hunting on the property and that her asking price for the parcel is firm.
Commission members said the town would be unlikely to accept a purchase that included private hunting restrictions if it were bought with Land Use Change Tax (LUCT) funds, because such limitations reduce the property’s recreational value for residents. Jeff Leombruno, a commission member, said LUCT-funded acquisitions normally cannot carry the sort of restriction Bruneault seeks.
Bruneault said developer Joe Falzone is no longer involved in transactions related to her parcel and that she has spoken with Duane Hyde of the Southeast Land Trust (SELT) about alternatives. Commissioner Joe Trombley noted the parcel’s low scrub and limited tree cover and said the site is not well suited to hunting; Trombley suggested Bruneault might pursue a conservation easement through SELT to allow her desired restriction. Trombley also said she could remove the property from recreational current use to post no-hunting signs.
Treasurer Dan McCombs suggested leaving the parcel as-is while nearby development proceeds and monitoring whether hunting activity changes. "She could contact the Commission in the future with any questions or updates," McCombs told Bruneault, according to meeting minutes.
The commission did not take formal action on purchasing the parcel; members outlined options (conservation easement, change of current-use status, private sale) and emphasized that restrictions tied to LUCT-funded purchases pose legal and public-value constraints. The commission advised the owner to pursue SELT or other conservation tools and to update the commission if her position or circumstances change.
Next steps: Bruneault said she may follow up with SELT about a conservation easement; the commission did not schedule further action and will revisit the matter only if the owner or SELT brings a formal proposal.
