Select Board grants conservation restriction for Little River Road

The Select Board unanimously approved a conservation restriction for a plot of land on Little River Road. 

A conservation restriction protects the land by permanently banning development for both current and future owners.

The 23-acre plot of land is owned by the Buzzards Bay Coalition, who is working with the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust to conserve the land. The Coalition purchased the land for $2.55 million, with $400,000 fromt the DNRT. The DNRT got this money with help from 20 neighbors of the property.

“This is pretty straightforward and there’s no surprises or anything different about this from any other conservation restrictions I’ve brought before you,” said Nick Wildman, the executive director of the DNRT. 

The land is split into two plots; 14.52 acres had already been approved for a restriction from the Conservation Commission, with the remaining 8.48 acres needing Select Board approval. 

The land was chosen for four reasons: conserving the property follows the town’s mission for conservation; it is a scenic location; there are endangered species living on the property; and it is in a flood zone that could potentially become land for salt marsh migration. 

According to Wildman, the fact that the land is in a flood zone makes it less appealing for residential use and more appealing for conservation. 

“This is not a place where we could envision … people building more houses,” he said. “Very likely to see salt marsh migration.”

He stated that conserving the property would fill conservation gaps in the surrounding area. 

Wildman stated the Trust reached out to 60 neighbors of the property. Twenty-two responded positively, agreeing that the land should be conserved. 

The previous owner of the land bought the property eight years ago and cleared it. The owner reached out to the Coalition and DNRT with an offer for the Coalition to purchase the property before it was listed for residential or developmental use. 

The eastern portion of the land was sold to a family for $1.78 million. The family will have to follow the rules of the conservation restriction. 

The current plan for the rest of the property is to preserve it as is, although turning the property into a hiking trail is not out of the question. The restriction allows the space to be turned into a trail, and the 22 abutters who responded stated they would not be opposed to a trail.

The DNRT would be in charge of inspections and upholding the rules in the conservation restriction.