Lincoln Selectmen vote to exercise Chapter 61A option on 21-acre McDowell parcel

LINCOLN -- February 22, 2010, Lincoln Selectmen unanimously exercise Chapter 61A option on 21-acre McDowell farm. The board voted Feb. 22 to acquire the Old Sudbury Road parcel from Roy S. McDowell and to execute a draft purchase and sale agreement for a May 20 closing, contingent on a two-thirds vote at the March 27 Town Meeting and a majority at the March 29 ballot. Rural Land Foundation Executive Director Jeff McGeehan said the $3.1 million project is funded by up to $1 million in town bonding, $400,000 from CPA, $770,000 in state Agricultural Preservation Restriction money and $930,000 in private fundraising, now within roughly $46,000 of goal after more than 100 pledges. Member Gary Taylor, who had pushed a partial-development Plan B, said full preservation proved "much more fiscally prudent" because limited development would have "jeopardized state funding and some of the larger pledges." The full $1 million bond would add about $65 to the average tax bill annually for 10 years.