Rochester Select Board considers $1.3 million land purchase
From left: Town Administrator Cameron Durant and Select Board members Paul Ciaburri, Adam Murphy and Bradford Morse at the Monday, Aug. 17 meeting. Photo source: ORCTV
From left: Town Administrator Cameron Durant and Select Board members Paul Ciaburri, Adam Murphy and Bradford Morse at the Monday, Aug. 17 meeting. Photo source: ORCTV
ROCHESTER — Rochester leaders are considering buying a $1.3 million property for conservation from future development.
Town Administrator Cameron Durant proposed the purchase of a 29-acre land parcel off of Snows Pond Road on Snipatuit during a Monday, Aug. 17 Select Board meeting.
YMCA Southcoast currently owns the land and originally purchased it from Unitarian Memorial Church in Fairhaven. The church placed several deed restrictions on it, including the condition that the parcel be used for a boys camp and prohibiting the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
Russ Keeler, treasurer of the Rochester Land Trust, said he doesn’t think the Select Board should pay $1.3 million for the land. Durant said there is a procurement law mandating a property be appraised to determine fair market value before the town can make a purchase like this.
Durant said he wanted the board to consider purchasing the land because Snipatuit Pond, which borders the property, could provide additional water for the town. Rochester’s water currently comes from aquifers, which may be stressed by the town’s growing population, he said.
Snipatuit pond also feeds into New Bedford, Taunton, Marion, Mattapoisett and New Haven through the Mattapoisett River.
Durant said when discussing zoning changes at the last town meeting, a resident said the town should use its resources to protect land with conservation and resource value.
“I believe that this is exactly such a parcel because of its proximity to the largest pond in Rochester and the clean drinking water potentiality it holds,” Durant said.
Ultimately, the purchase of the property would be decided by residents at a town meeting. Durant wants the board to explore working with regional partners, like Rochester Land Trust and Buzzard’s Bay Coalition, who have an interest in the conservation of this land.
Keeler said the land trust would like to conserve the property for water, habitat and natural resource protection. He said it would also be willing to help with proceedings such as grants.
