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Conservation plan proposed to protect public access to Joe English Hill
Summary
The Conservation Commission presented a plan to carve a roughly 20-acre parcel from a 70-acre lot at 79 Summit Drive for public, non-motorized trail access to Joe English Hill; presenters said the parcel would be dedicated for public use and paid for by the town if approved.
Representatives of the Conservation Commission urged the Zoning Board of Appeals to approve a variance that would allow the town to acquire and dedicate roughly 20 acres of a roughly 70-acre lot on the north face of Joe English Hill to preserve public access.
Pete Maloney, speaking for the conservation commission's open-space committee, said the proposal would create a trail and a small viewing area, potentially with a bench at the high point. "We're carving out a portion of about 20 acres" intended to be conserved and "dedicated for public use," he said. The group described a 16-foot existing accessway off Joe English Hill near Jessica Lane that would be used as a non-motorized path.
Presenters said the approach balanced conservation goals with the landowners' need to preserve value tied to an existing business on part of the lot. They cited master-plan language supporting walkability and conservation and referenced studies indicating trails can have positive effects on nearby property values. Neighbors and board members raised concerns about parking, driveway encroachment and emergency access; the board later denied the variance but encouraged further negotiation toward an alternate mechanism such as an easement.
