Sudbury Town Meeting approves major land conservation measure

SUDBURY

Sudbury's Town Meeting funded 10 Community Preservation Act warrant articles last night, spending about $10 million in the process.

The largest expenditure was a $7.5 million payment to preserve and maintain over 300 acres of open space known as the Nobscot Scout Reservation, which straddles the Framingham border.

With the vote, residents are allowing the town to seek 20-year bonds for a permanent conservation restriction on the land, which is one of the largest open parcels in the western suburbs. The move was a victory for preservationists in the region who were seeking to avoid commercial and residential development on the land.

Jody Kablack, Sudbury's director of planning and community development, said the land will be used for passive recreation activities like nature trails, hiking and cross-country skiing. The landscape is made up of waterfalls, ponds, small caves, and wetlands, and is home to a diverse wildlife population, including foxes, owls, deer, and turtles.

Town meeting also spent $2,300 to help preserve historic town documents, $47,000 to restore windows at town hall, $750,000 for community housing, and $10,000 for an archaeological survey of the Military Training Field on Old County Road.

Members also approved $400,000 in Community Preservation Act funds to buy about 10 acres of railroad right of way running south from Union Avenue to the Framingham line from the CSX Corp. The state provided a $247,000 grant for the land, which would probably be used for trails and road extension.

Two more CPA articles remain on the agenda for a third night of town meeting tomorrow.