Denise Sargent: This voter urges Gilford residents to support Article 31

To The Daily Sun,

As Gilford Town Meeting approaches, this household respectfully ask Gilford voters to vote YES on Article 31, which asks the town to authorize the Planning Board to release any interest that the town may have in a restrictive covenant on the property at 20 Mitchell Road.

There is a proposal before the Planning Board for an 11-lot subdivision on a 17-acre portion of the property. Any subdivision proposal would still be subject to the Planning Board’s full public review process, including public hearings and compliance with all local regulations.

The selectboard has voted not to recommend this article, citing insufficient proposal information. We feel it is important to share information directly with residents so they can make an informed decision at Town Meeting on March 10.

20 Mitchell Road consists of 33 acres from an original 115-acre parcel that has been in our family for more than 100 years, and family members still live on the property today. In 1980, our aunt, who owned the property at the time, granted to the town a Covenant in Perpetuity Not to Subdivide in exchange for the sale of seven one-acre lots. In 1996, that covenant was partially released through a town vote to allow an abutter to subdivide and sell six acres that were included in the original restriction. We are now seeking a release through the same established process.

Releasing the covenant would benefit the town by generating approximately $160,000 in Current Use Change Tax revenue, along with an estimated $200,000 annually in future property taxes, while also contributing to Gilford’s supply of single-family housing.

For these reasons, this household asks voters to support Article 31.

Denise Sargent

Gilford