Bridgewater Community and Economic Development

The following items are part of the official record of the CEDC exploration of the town’s right of first refusal for purchase of the Calthrop Trust property.

• Calthrop Environmental Site Assessment (ESA, 2/3/12)–a routine step in most land purchases, contains maps, etc.
• 2nd letter from DOR regarding use of CPA funds, written 1-19-12, rec’d 1-23-12
• Letter to DOR requesting opinion on use of CPA funds, 1-3-12
• Loan order 1/5/12 hearing notice
• Letter from DOR regarding use of CPA funds, 12-15-11 (Note: This letter does not reflect the second appraisal of $2.7M)
• DCR Recommitment Letter 12-16-11
• Wildlands Trust Recomittment Letter 12-16-11
• Nature Conservancy Recommitment letter 12-16-11
• 2nd Calthrop appraisal-$2.7M (Please note that because this PDF lacks a signature and is not on letterhead it does not constitute an official report. The only official report is that version delivered in hard copy to the Town Manager)
• Calthrop Trust/Town Purchase & Sale agreement
• Initial appraisal of Calthrop Trust Property ($1.3M)
• Town Council packet, 10-10-11
• MGL 61A statute
• Calthrop Property CPA Proposal per CPC Vote (10-6-11)
• Nature Conservancy commitment letter (10/7/11)
• Mr. Perkins  commitment letter (10/3/11)
• Councilor Colombotos’s analysis of the fiscal impact of 97 houses (9/20/11)
• Bonding scenario presented by the Town Manager on (9/13/11)
• CEDC meeting_minutes_(9/13/11)
• Town Manager’s responses to Town Council question (9/28/11)
• Draft Academy Building Project Estimate from Municipal Building Committee chair (9/28/11, following 6 PDFs)

1. Summary
2. Part I
3. Parts II & III
4. Part IV
5. Part V
6. Part VI & VII

• D’Emilia letter (9/19/11) offering to donate a portion of the proposed project’s land
• State Dept. of Conservation and Recreation_letter of support
• Potential non-profit partners’ letter of support
• CPC chair’s letter to the CEDC
• Planning Board’s recommendation not to exercise right of first refusal (link pending)
• Planning Board chair’s email responses to Town Council’s questions
• Board of Assessor’s recommendation not to exercise right of first refusal (link pending)
• Conservation Commission’s recommendation
• Conservation Commission_email responses to Town Council’s questions
• Building Inspector response to Town Council’s question
• Notice of Intent to remove land from Chapter 61A from Calthrop Trust
• Town Manager’s acceptance of Calthrop Trust Notice of Intent
• MGL Chapter 61A Section 14 regarding process to remove land from Chapter 61A

September 3, 2011
Under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 61A, the town of Bridgewater has until October 12 to exercise its right of first refusal to purchase a 141 acre parcel of undeveloped land between Cherry Street and the Taunton River (the town may also elect to transfer that right to another entity).

At its meeting of September 6th, the Town Council referred the issue to the Community and Economic Development Committee (CEDC) for a recommendation.

The CEDC will hold a meeting on Tuesday, September 13th, at 7:00 in the Memorial Building in order to address the following issues in order to help the Town Council and citizens make an informed decision on this matter.
•       The nature of the parcel itself—its history, topography, value as a natural and recreational resource, relation to the river, and potential means of public access.
•       Potential cost and benefits of preserving the parcel.
•       Possible funding scenarios, including outside sources if applicable.

Links
Letter of Intent from Calthrop Trust
Town Manager’s acceptance of Calthrop Trust LOI
MGL Chapter 61A Section 14 regarding process to remove land from Chapter 61A