Thursday, May 8, 2003

Land sale draws fire
By David Rogers / DROGERS@CNC.COM
Amesbury News.

Buoyed by the success of last week's auction, the city is looking to sell seven more parcels of land to help make up for a predicted shortfall in local aid. But since the plan entails reverting open space land off Whitehall Road into residential lots, it has raised the ire of conservationists.

Conservation Commission member Mary Ellen Shirshac said while she understand the need for raising funds, developing open land may not be the best approach.

"It's a quick fix but not the answer to the problem and I would hate to see our open space go," she said.

The seven parcels -166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176 and 178 Whitehall Road - have been assessed by the city at $926,500. Last week's auction, which raised $510,000 for the city, contained two parcels, both on Lafayette Street, which are still zoned open space.

Former Municipal Councilor Tom Iacobucci called the mayor's plan shortsighted and against the wishes of the community.

"This is selling off the future," Iacobucci said. "We purchased the (Woodsom) farm to preserve it as open space so it wouldn't be developed. Not to be turned into house lots."

In 1988, Amesbury spent about $5 million to purchase Woodsom Farm land which included the seven Whitehall Road lots in question.

But Hildt refuted Iacobucci's claim saying the original plan of those lots was to sell them to developers.

"As I understand it they were always intended to be disposed of as revenue-producing lots and they are permitted," Hildt said.

Still, Iacobucci's complaint may speak for many, as the preservation of open space was listed as a main priority for many who took part in Master Plan workshop in March. A quality of life survey mailed to residents by the city in December also showed that open space was important.

Town Planner Nipun Jain said the city might want to take a harder look at whether selling more land would be the best way to solve it's budget woes.

"We're going through the Master Plan process and reviewing our open space sources so we need to keep that in mind and not take any hasty steps," Jain said.

Hildt defended his stance calling it an extraordinary measure during extraordinary budget times.

"My job is to see that town essential services are provided and I'm doing that the best way I can," Hildt said. "If one were to look at the history of the properties then it would support our belief that this is something we should be doing."

Bracing for what could be as much as a $2.2 million loss in local aid from the state, the city is contemplating layoffs, reduction of services and possibly a tax hike.

The process of making the land suitable for sale will begin May 20, when the Planning Board is scheduled to debate the matter. Should Hildt's proposal make it through the Planning Board it would still need to be upon by the Municipal Council.

Hildt said auctioning the seven parcels could take place as soon as August.

"It all depends whether this is something the council wants to do," Hildt said.