Preserving Concord Road Lot 'Not the Highest Priority'

After weeks of grappling with the decision on whether to purchase a 2.2-acre parcel of land on Concord Road to help preserve it as open land, Sudbury's Board of Selectmen decided the cost was too much for the town to handle.

In a 4-1 vote during its rescheduled meeting on Dec. 18, the Board opted not to spend the $325,000 it would take to buy 233 Concord Road from owners Stephen and Sharon Booma, who are now free to sell the property to a private party who plans on building a home on the lot.

"Money is tight. Through the CPC and CPA we’ve protected hundreds of acres," Chair John Drobinski said. "Funds are limited and projects need priorities. This is not the highest priority."

A state law gave the Board right of first refusal to the land.

The lone voice of opposition on the Board was Bob Haarde, who said the town would lose out financially for every child who moves into the planned house.

"This is a historic piece of land to preserve for the long term," he said. "The cost to educate a child in Sudbury is $15,000 (annually). We won’t raise nearly enough (in taxes) to cover cost of children moving in it. I think it’s a good financial move for the town (to purchase the land)."

Last month the Board voted to ask for $100,000 in Community Preservation funds toward the possible purchase. That would have left $225,000 that Sudbury residents wanting the land to remain open would have had to raise.

Only one resident, John Baranowsky, spoke during the Dec. 19 meeting, asking the Board to let the land go.

"I don't quite understand why this particular one can't go forward," he said. "I don't see any reason why we should purchase this lot. Let’s vote this down and let’s build a house."