Is This Property the Alternative to Cemetery Fields?

A property owner in Amherst hasn’t given up on turning his field into the recreational space that many in town are calling for.

Brad Knight will approach the Amherst Planning Board with a proposal to turn his property 12 Stearns Road, Acorn Fields, into playing fields. His last request was denied earlier this year, but Knight has since changed his plans.

Previous requests have included commercial activities, such as weddings and community events, in order to fund the property. Now Knight is only requesting approval for recreational use on the 57-acre property.

His plans for the property would include soccer, lacrosse, football and baseball. It is also being used as farm space, which will continue even if playing fields are put in place.

The zoning board turned down Knight’s previous application to change the property to commercial use after it had failed one of the five required variances for a Rural Residential Zone. Knight is more confident he will get approval now that he is only asking for site plan approval for recreational use.

Abutters have taken issue with this plan to turn this property into playing fields. Those opposed to the change have cited noise, traffic and environmental concerns with changing the property’s use. An earlier attempt to turn the property into playing fields by former owners Benjamin and Rosemary Brewster had also failed.

However, Knight is determined to go through with his plans to turn Acorn Fields into an alternative to Cemetery Fields, which will cease recreational use in September, 2014. Although many are making efforts to reverse that decision, Knight believes their efforts are in vain.

Some fighting for the continued use of Cemetery Fields are calling for the removal of the Amherst Cemetery Trustees if they don’t relent on their decision to turn the property into cemetery space. This was the original agreement when the trustees allowed recreational use on the property, and Knight said that because of their judiciary relationship and responsibilities to the trust, they can be held accountable for their actions.

He has little faith that the effort to save Cemetery Fields for recreation will succeed.

“There has been lots of discussion and people upset about losing the field, but my plan is a workable solution for the town of Amherst,” said Knight. He added that his alternative comes at no cost to the taxpayers.

The new application will be presented to the planning board during their meeting on Wednesday, August 7. If all goes well, Knight hopes to have recreational space ready for sports teams by Spring 2014.