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LAND COMMITTEE

2015 Annual Report

The Land Committee consists of five members: one from the Conservation Commission, one
from the Planning Board, one from the Finance Committee, and two Members at Large. Our
charge is to categorize and prioritize parcels of land for open space, conservation, active
recreation, and municipal needs, and to assist the Selectmen in matters involving acquisition of
land, easements and other real property interests.

During 2015, much of the Land Committee efforts were focused on the Haynes Land Advisory
Committee and its efforts to receive funding at the October Town Meeting and to get started with
construction of the “Boxford Commons” athletic facility on Middleton Road, adjacent to Samuel
Bixby Way. The Town Meeting vote passed by the necessary 2/3 margin, and construction began
in late 2015. During this time leading to town meeting much discussion occurred regarding
possible acquisition of property on Willow Road as an alternative to the Haynes parcel. The
Land Committee spent some time providing assistance and answering questions pertaining to the
Willow Road parcel, but no action was taken at Town Meeting.

During late summer 2015, we met with Vanessa Johnson of Essex County Greenbelt to discuss
possible acquisition of a Conservation Restriction on the Leonhard property on the North
Andover/Boxford town line on Ipswich Road. Discussion on this project will probably carry
through to 2016.

The Land Committee encourages landowners contemplating the sale of their property, a donation
of their property, or the placing of a Conservation Restriction on their property, to contact our
committee so we can evaluate how your parcel affects our open space, recreational, and
municipal needs. The Land Committee will, wherever possible, incorporate the Open Space and
Master Plan when prioritizing parcels for protection.

For 2016 the Committee will meet on the second Wednesday of each month at the Town Hall.
This upcoming year the Committee hopes to focus on community needs and work with other
town committees to determine how best to meet the long and short term goals of the town. We
thank the citizens of Boxford for their continued support.

Current members;
Peter Delaney Chairman (Cons Com)
Bob Gore (Planning Bd.)
Peter Bernardin (Fin Com)
Natasha Grigg (Member at Large)
Stuart Saginor (Member at Large)

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