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« Wrentham rep explains marriage vote change | Main | They'll be practicing their job interview skills » Thursday, June 14, 2007Some still hoping Hopkinton will buy huge parcelFrom Globe West: Town fails in bid to buy open space HOPKINTON It's not over yet. That's the message from those who want the town of Hopkinton to buy 710 acres of undeveloped land, keeping it out of the hands of a developer. A proposal to spend $30.4 million on buying the land failed to get the required two-thirds majority at a special town meeting earlier this week. But voters at a town election Monday will still consider a proposal to raise that money through a tax increase. If that proposal passes, town meeting could get another chance to vote on the spending. Selectman Brian Herr says the issue is not yet resolved. Julia Linnell, who lives near the proposed development site, which lies off Route 135 near the Weston Nurseries garden center, says she believes that Boulder's proposed development would "wreck the town.” Boulder is proposing to build a shopping center and more than 900 homes on the site. Boulder president Roy MacDowell warns that if the town isn't careful, it could end up with an agreement to buy the property but no authorization from the voters to buy it. He says that could put the town in a "precarious position." The town has a right to buy the property because its owners took part in an agricultural tax break program, which required them to give Hopkinton first crack at buying the land if it ever went on the market. Selectmen are holding a public hearing tonight to hear people's opinions on the purchase of the land. -- Kyle Alspach Posted by the Boston Globe City & Region Desk at 05:04 PM
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