Sudbury Officials Mull Blocking Private Sale of Concord Road Site

The Town of Sudbury has until Dec. 19 to decide whether to block a private sale of 233 Concord Road and purchase the land itself.

During the Oct. 22 Board of Selectmen meeting, which was live streamed on SudburyTV, Chair John Drobinksi said no position would be taken so the Board could hear pros and cons of the possible purchase from the public.

The 2.2-acre parcel is part Chapter 61A, a program that makes the land eligible for property tax reductions as long as the owners use the land to agricultural use. 

Chapter 61A also allows Sudbury the right of first refusal on any sale.

According to documents attached to the Oct. 22 agenda, current owners Stephen and Sharon Booma agreed in August to sell their property to Michael Carney, who plans to build a house.

But others in town feel the sale is wrong for Sudbury, including the Historic Districts Commission.

"I personally feel that new construction in such a significant historic area is risky," Linda Hawes, chairwoman of the Historic Districts Commission, wrote in a recent letter to Sudbury Planning and Community Development Director Jody Kablack, "no matter how carefully we work with the builders. I hope somehow the property can be left open." 

Residents Jill and Stephan Gross wrote a similar letter to the Planning Board.

Kablack said at the Selectmen meeting she wasn't ready to make a recommendation because she was still in a fact-finding mode on the issue.