Town to acquire Page Pond and Forest

In partnership with the Trust for Public Land, the town is preparing to acquire a 567-acre tract on Meredith Neck bordering Page Pond straddling Page Brook, with 500-acres of upland forest and prime wetlands, for $2.5-million.

Introducing the project at the meeting of the Selectboard last night, Petter Miller of the Conservation Commission called it "a very special conservation opportunity." The property, owned by the The Wilds of New England, was designated for conservation by the Master Plan of 1969 and has remained the Conservation Commission's highest priority ever since.

Miller explained that two years ago the commission approached the Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit organization committed to protecting places of natural, historic and cultural importance, to broker the transfer of the property. The trust, which serves as an intermediary between willing landowners and public agencies as well as develops funding packages, has an option to purchase the property in preparation of transferring ownership to the town in July 2008.

Meanwhile, the trust and the town have embarked what Miller called "a truly major capital campaign" to raise the $2.5-million. He explained that the $2.5-million includes the "soft costs" of negotiating the transaction, applying for the grant, appraising the property and so on, which are being born by the trust. On behalf of the town, the trust has applied for a $500,000 grant from the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP), representing 20-percent of the cost . Miller said that the project is among the finalists for the LCHIP grant and that a decision was expected by October 29.

The Conservation Fund would provide $350,000 on the understanding that the 2008 budget appropriates $50,000 to the expendable trust fund for open space. Another $400,000 would be raised by the sale of general obligation bonds at 4.5-percent with a term of ten years. Miller said that instead of appropriating $50,000 to the expendable trust fund for open space the money could be applied to service the borrowing. Altogether the town would contribute 30-percent of the purchase price.

The balance, $1,250,000 — half the total cost — would be raised from private sources — individuals and foundations. Betsy McGean of the trust, who heads the fundraising campaign, said her goal was to raise $1-million from large donors by the end of the year, launch an aggressive public appeal in the spring and close the drive in June.

The property, considered among the most significant and valuable watersheds on the northern shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, includes 2,200-feet of undeveloped frontage on Page Pond and two miles of frontage on Page Brook, which empties into Fish Cove. It is home to a thriving great blue heron rookery, a stopping place for migrating shorebirds and a rich warmwater fishery.

A historic sawmill, fashioned of stone, sits alongside the brook in the dense woods and a marker commemorates Dudley Leavitt, publisher of "Leavitt's Farmer's Almanac and Miscellaneous Yearbook," a staple of New Hampshire homesteads between 1797 and the 1840s.

Miller said the town would manage the land for multiple recreational uses — hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, birding, kayaking and canoeing.

Bruce Clafin, a member of the fundraising team, reminded the meeting that the property had changed hands several times since it was first slated for conservation in 1969. Although it has yet to be developed, he said that at current land prices, a buyer would be bound to develop the property to recoup its cost. Planning Director John Edgar calculated that the tract would support about 185 single-family homes.

"This will not be a source of tax revenue," said one resident of Meredith Neck. "It will be a liability to the town if we don't act know." He was echoed by a number of speakers, including former state senator Carl Johnson, who recalled the effort to conserve the Moulton and Longridge farms and urged "let's do it again!."

Without exception the Selectmen endorsed the project, but several emphasized the importance of meeting the private fundraising goal in what they anticipated would be a difficult budget season. "I cannot overstate the importance of the private component," said chairman Frank Michel.

Selectman Bob Flanders said that "the numbers are substantially different thanks in no small part to the Grinch I played in the negotiations."

Calling the private portion "critical," Selectman Peter Brothers said "don't stop at $1.2-million. Just keep going!"

Selectman Miller Lovett said he favored the project "without reservations" and declared "we've got to find a way to do it," but added that "the town is facing a perfect storm on finance." pointing to the fire station, water system and "major capital deficit in our town for many decades."