March 15, 2001

Councilor offers field alternative
Amesbury News - By JOEL BECK

Municipal Councilor at large Tom Iacobucci says a former gravel pit on South Martin Road is the ideal location for more athletic fields in Amesbury.

Nearly two years ago, the council passed a vote to place the land under the jurisdiction of the Parks and Recreation Committee with the intent of developing athletic fields, but nothing has been done with the land since then. An ordinance sponsored by Iacobucci would declare the 37.5 acres surplus for the purpose of creating recreational fields.

" This is not an alternative to any other project, " Iacobucci said. " This is simply jumpstarting what was the intended project for this property which was to develop fields there. "

The land was acquired by the town through tax-title is part of the area that is being studied by TerraSphere, the Worcester-based land-consulting firm that was hired by the Alliance for Amesbury to assess 450 acres of land. Iacobucci said not only is the land perfect for recreational field because it is zoned for that, but it would also not cripple the town financially.

" The issue here is that this isn’t going to cost the taxpayers. " Iacobucci said. " The idea is that private groups can bid on it and they will have exclusive rights to it for 20 years. "

The land sits adjacent to the area on South Hunt Road where there is currently a proposal for a Centerfolds strip club. If the land is zoned for park recreation, it may make it difficult for a strip club to be built in the area. The Alliance for Amesbury’s motives in hiring TerraSphere was to find an alternative to the strip club and Haffner’s truck stop proposals, but Iacobucci says that having fields there just makes good business sense.

" All I’m trying to do is move this project forward and ensure that it is getting built, " Iacobucci said. " People are looking for recreational fields in town and some private groups can step up to the plate and build them at their own costs. "