Keeping them on the farm

Now, the town is joining with the state, the private Wildlands Trust, and the Anderson family on an initiative that will ensure the agricultural vista is preserved for future generations.

West Bridgewater and the state Department of Agricultural Resources have agreed to pay the family $1,627,000 for an agricultural protection restriction on the 116-acre farm. The deed restriction, which was agreed to after a several-year effort led by the trust, will require that the land remain in agriculture for perpetuity and that it not be developed other than buildings needed for farming.

A Special Town Meeting Jan. 25 unanimously authorized the town to acquire the restriction jointly with the state, and to appropriate the town’s $400,000 share of the cost. Of that share, $75,000 will be transferred from the Community Preservation Fund, and $325,000 borrowed against future revenues from the fund.

“The views of this farm are what makes the town,’’ said Chris Iannitelli, chairman of the town’s Open Space Committee. “We felt it was important to preserve it for the generations ahead to see what a farming community looked like.’’

It also helps the town avoid “building out too much,’’ said Inanitelli, who is West Bridgewater’s forestry superintendent and vice chairman of the Community Preservation Committee. And he said the agreement allows the town to benefit from a significant funding contribution from the state.

“It’s an opportunity we had with the state offering their share, which probably would never have happened again,’’ he said.

The Department of Agricultural Resources, which administers the state’s agricultural preservation restriction program, is contributing $1,160,000 of the restriction cost. Wildlands Trust, a land trust that works to protect open space in southeastern Massachusetts, chipped in $67,000 and funded the approximately $8,000 cost of a land survey.

Gabriella Silva, the trust’s assistant director, said the family also indirectly contributed to the financing by agreeing to sell the restriction at a bargain price. The purchase price for restrictions is usually based on the difference between the property’s value as developable land and its value as agricultural land. But the price the Andersons will receive is $708,000 below the appraised value of the restriction, Silva said.

Iannitelli said the restriction comes as West Bridgewater, which has about eight working farms, is exploring other ways to preserve farming heritage, including possible creation of an agricultural commission.

The Anderson Farm was established in the early part of the last century by Adolph Anderson. The farm has been passed down to succeeding generations and now is owned by Lance and Richard Anderson, according to Lance’s son, Shawn Anderson.

The farm remains an active dairy operation, with 80 head of cattle. The milk it produces is sold to Cumberland Farms and Garelick Farms. The family also grows hay and corn that is used to feed the cattle, according to Shawn Anderson, 36, who in addition to helping at the farm works for for the town’s highway department.

In a telephone interview, Scott J. Soares, commissioner of the state agriculture department, hailed the “the cooperation that really came together to make this project happen,’’ noting the contributions of the farm, the land trust, the state, and the town.

“This agricultural preservation restriction locks in the property so it can only be used for agricultural use going into the future forever, which is significant,’’ said Soares, noting that it also ensures that the land can be sold only at its agricultural value.

He added that the farm can use the proceeds of the sale of the restriction to reinvest in its operations.

According to Silva, the West Bridgewater initiative began several years ago. The trust had sent mailings to owners of large open spaces in the region and asked if any might want to work with the group to protect their lands. The Andersons said they were interested.

The trust determined that in addition to being a large tract of open farmland, the property was worthy of a preservation effort because it is along the Town River, a major tributary to the Taunton River. She said it also abuts the Hockomock Swamp - the state’s largest freshwater wetland - and its fields offer habitat for migrating birds and other wildlife.

“It’s really a beautiful area, so it adds to the character of the town,’’ she said.

Anderson said his family is happy with the restriction agreement, even though it meant accepting less than fair market value.

“This protects it and keeps the land like it is forever and ever, generation after generation,’’ he said. “So we don’t have to worry about it. It gives you peace of mind.’’

Added Anderson, “I live in town and my whole family lives in town. It’s good for the whole town. We want more people coming in town to see it as it is. . . . It’s a quaint town and a small town and a very safe town, and that’s the way we’d like to keep it.’’