This is a plan to prevent overdevelopment. To maintain the rural feel of the town and all our prop- erty values, we need money; we need a plan, and we need an edge.
If the owner wishes to sell Chapter 61 land, the town has the Right of First Refusal. Our hand is strengthened by this right. We can exercise our right and then we determine the land use.
The Money
Here’s a summary of how we finance this transaction. This model can be used over and over to protect the town.
| Purchase Price: | $600,000 |
| CPC conditional pledge | (100,000) |
| Donor pledges | (70,000) |
| Subdivide into 2 building lots | (300,000) |
| Net cost to town to conserve ~30 acres | $130,000 |
This is the best deal in the Berkshires.
At one extreme are folks who think the market should decide. This will lead to overdevelopment, loss of open space, and erosion of property values. At the other extreme are those who would bar all development. We are proposing a middle ground.
The third way: modest growth while most of each parcel is conserved as open space. It is rooted in a method of planning called Open Space Resource Design, a strategic process that integrates recreation, conservation, and planning driven by the community. It keeps control over our destiny in our own hands.
Stockbridge has become so popular, our property values are exploding.
One option is doing nothing and let the market decide. This developer frenzy could destroy the character of the town and your property values.
A second option is to buy everything and go broke. We don’t have enough money to buy every undeveloped parcel that might come on the market.
Maybe, like Goldilocks, there is a third way: we want the pourridge to be just right. How do we do that? For each parcel, conserve some of it and allow a few new neighbors to build a home.
Great idea, but why should town government be involved? Because it is town government that has the right of first refusal. This provides us with leverage in the negotiation and ensures that the town does not become overbuilt.
If you care, show up. Most town meetings are attended by just 25% of the total number who will vote in Tuesday’s election. Give or take 100 people make decisions for the entire town. If you care about open space, smart growth, and keeping control of your own destiny, take the time and invest two of it in Monday night’s meeting.
Decisions are made by those who show up.
