News & Press Coverage
2018
Breiter-Wu presents "A Solar Solution" at Seekonk Land Trust Annual MeetingThursday, April 12, 2018 11:34 am
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The annual meeting of the Seekonk Land Conservation Trust was held at the Seekonk Library on April 3, 2018 and featured a presentation titled "Clean Energy For All: A Solar Solution" by Andrew Breiter-Wu. Mr. Breiter-Wu is President of Breiter Planet Properties and a current SLCT Board Member. He gave a power point presentation with a solid explanation of the merits of solar energy and the numerous options residents and businesses can leverage. He discussed how solar energy generation works, how it gets fed into our local electric grids, and also addressed different mounting types that people can utilize when going solar. The second portion of his presentation primarily focused on the numerous and unique solar solutions that communities can leverage. Some of the options were solar ownership, power purchase agreements, community solar, and exterior lease options.
In response to local communities throughout New England expressing concerns about solar development projects in non industrial zoned areas, Breiter-Wu stated that "It's imperative that communities incorporate solar farms into their master plans while still preserving open space for community enjoyment”. Throughout his presentation he maintained this focus as a personal priority that he carries with him when working with communities on solar projects through his firm.
For the remainder of the annual meeting Tom Webb, Seekonk Land Trust President, outlined the 2017 accomplishments of the SLCT. With 1383 acres of conservation land in town, of which the Land Trust has helped preserve 784 acres or 57%, Seekonk now has about 12% of the town land preserved by the Water Board, the Conservation Commission, Caratunk, Agricultural Restrictions, private land, and the Land Trust. In 2017 the SLCT celebrated their 50th Anniversary and acquired 22 acres along the Runnins River, a donation from RI Boy Scouts, and worked on completing Conservation Restrictions on 70 acres of Conservation Commission and private land in town. They also began an approval process for 12 acres of farmland to gain an agricultural restriction which will be voted on at the upcoming spring Town meeting. The Land Trust has worked with the Open Space and Recreation Committee to complete a townwide plan that will qualify Seekonk for applying for new types of state funds for open space and recreation.
If you would like to learn more information, you can contact him at Andrew@breiterplanet.com or call his office at (617) 334-5785.
http://www.reportertoday.com/detail.html?sub_id=23025&edit_result=live&msg=Item+saved.
The annual meeting of the Seekonk Land Conservation Trust was held at the Seekonk Library on April 3, 2018 and featured a presentation titled "Clean Energy For All: A Solar Solution" by Andrew Breiter-Wu. Mr. Breiter-Wu is President of Breiter Planet Properties and a current SLCT Board Member. He gave a power point presentation with a solid explanation of the merits of solar energy and the numerous options residents and businesses can leverage. He discussed how solar energy generation works, how it gets fed into our local electric grids, and also addressed different mounting types that people can utilize when going solar. The second portion of his presentation primarily focused on the numerous and unique solar solutions that communities can leverage. Some of the options were solar ownership, power purchase agreements, community solar, and exterior lease options.
In response to local communities throughout New England expressing concerns about solar development projects in non industrial zoned areas, Breiter-Wu stated that "It's imperative that communities incorporate solar farms into their master plans while still preserving open space for community enjoyment”. Throughout his presentation he maintained this focus as a personal priority that he carries with him when working with communities on solar projects through his firm.
For the remainder of the annual meeting Tom Webb, Seekonk Land Trust President, outlined the 2017 accomplishments of the SLCT. With 1383 acres of conservation land in town, of which the Land Trust has helped preserve 784 acres or 57%, Seekonk now has about 12% of the town land preserved by the Water Board, the Conservation Commission, Caratunk, Agricultural Restrictions, private land, and the Land Trust. In 2017 the SLCT celebrated their 50th Anniversary and acquired 22 acres along the Runnins River, a donation from RI Boy Scouts, and worked on completing Conservation Restrictions on 70 acres of Conservation Commission and private land in town. They also began an approval process for 12 acres of farmland to gain an agricultural restriction which will be voted on at the upcoming spring Town meeting. The Land Trust has worked with the Open Space and Recreation Committee to complete a townwide plan that will qualify Seekonk for applying for new types of state funds for open space and recreation.
If you would like to learn more information, you can contact him at Andrew@breiterplanet.com or call his office at (617) 334-5785.
2017
2017: Response to David Saad Letter in June 2016 Issue
Posted Monday, June 27, 2016 12:00 am
To the Editor:
In his recent letter to the editor (Seekonk Concerned Citizens Controlling Our Land, June 2016) David Saad of Seekonk Concerned Citizens said, “Protecting our land is a great idea.” We at the Seekonk Land Conservation Trust couldn’t agree more. That’s why we are so pleased to support the Town of Seekonk’s planned purchase of the 20-acre Young Farm on Elm and Chestnut Streets.
Saad’s other assertions about this project, namely that buying the property “would place it on the shelf and most likely out of our control forever” and that the money might be better spent on “our schools, safety, or roads,” demonstrate a lack of familiarity with how the Community Preservation Act works.
By purchasing this parcel of land, the Town will ensure that it specifically does maintain control of the property. Under town ownership, the future uses will be determined through locally run public hearings, and could include hiking, birdwatching, community farming, and other low-impact recreational uses by town residents. In addition, the property provides habitat for wildlife, protects local ground water resources, and knits together a roughly 50-acre greenbelt of protected open space. By contrast, a private developer would most likely prohibit any public use of the property, and could build as many as 8 houses there.
When the Community Preservation Act (CPA) was adopted by Seekonk voters in April 2009, they authorized the Town to implement a small property tax surcharge. The cumulative total from this fund is matched by state funds at 30% each year. The funds provided by the CPA can only be spent on land conservation, fair housing, historical preservation, and recreation and not on schools, safety, or roads. The protection of desirable and highly developable open space properties like the Young Farm is exactly what the Act was intended to support.
This purchase is a good deal for the Town. The purchase price of $300,000 represents a 25 percent discount from the appraised value of $400,000. The farm was thoroughly vetted through the appraisal process, including a detailed study of the site’s wetlands and other constraints, and the delineation of the possible eight building sites. That’s why the purchase was overwhelmingly approved by Town Meeting members at their spring meeting.
The Seekonk Community Preservation Committee has amassed an impressive record of accomplishments since it was created in 2009, protecting nearly 215 acres through five separate purchases, and leveraging more than $1 million in state matching and agricultural preservation funds. Through their continued efforts, the Town is well positioned to protect its rural character, guide growth into appropriate areas, and provide a network of protected wildlife habitat and open lands for future generations.
Sincerely,
Thompson Webb
President, Seekonk Land Conservation Trust, Inc.
To the Editor:
In his recent letter to the editor (Seekonk Concerned Citizens Controlling Our Land, June 2016) David Saad of Seekonk Concerned Citizens said, “Protecting our land is a great idea.” We at the Seekonk Land Conservation Trust couldn’t agree more. That’s why we are so pleased to support the Town of Seekonk’s planned purchase of the 20-acre Young Farm on Elm and Chestnut Streets.
Saad’s other assertions about this project, namely that buying the property “would place it on the shelf and most likely out of our control forever” and that the money might be better spent on “our schools, safety, or roads,” demonstrate a lack of familiarity with how the Community Preservation Act works.
By purchasing this parcel of land, the Town will ensure that it specifically does maintain control of the property. Under town ownership, the future uses will be determined through locally run public hearings, and could include hiking, birdwatching, community farming, and other low-impact recreational uses by town residents. In addition, the property provides habitat for wildlife, protects local ground water resources, and knits together a roughly 50-acre greenbelt of protected open space. By contrast, a private developer would most likely prohibit any public use of the property, and could build as many as 8 houses there.
When the Community Preservation Act (CPA) was adopted by Seekonk voters in April 2009, they authorized the Town to implement a small property tax surcharge. The cumulative total from this fund is matched by state funds at 30% each year. The funds provided by the CPA can only be spent on land conservation, fair housing, historical preservation, and recreation and not on schools, safety, or roads. The protection of desirable and highly developable open space properties like the Young Farm is exactly what the Act was intended to support.
This purchase is a good deal for the Town. The purchase price of $300,000 represents a 25 percent discount from the appraised value of $400,000. The farm was thoroughly vetted through the appraisal process, including a detailed study of the site’s wetlands and other constraints, and the delineation of the possible eight building sites. That’s why the purchase was overwhelmingly approved by Town Meeting members at their spring meeting.
The Seekonk Community Preservation Committee has amassed an impressive record of accomplishments since it was created in 2009, protecting nearly 215 acres through five separate purchases, and leveraging more than $1 million in state matching and agricultural preservation funds. Through their continued efforts, the Town is well positioned to protect its rural character, guide growth into appropriate areas, and provide a network of protected wildlife habitat and open lands for future generations.
Sincerely,
Thompson Webb
President, Seekonk Land Conservation Trust, Inc.
2017: Seekonk Runnins River Trail Project Complete
Posted Monday, January 9, 2017 10:14 am
Laura Calverley
Walking and hiking enthusiasts have a new trail in Seekonk to explore. A new walking trail has been built connecting the trails behind the Newman YMCA and Seekonk Town Hall all the way to the Turner Reservoir loop and beyond. The Runnins River Trail Connection Project was finished at the end of December except for a few additions such as signage which will be installed in the spring. The trail offers residents increased recreational opportunities and pedestrian access to the YMCA and Town Hall, says Conservation Agent Jennifer Miller. Hikers will enjoy several unique elements of the trail including a pedestrian bridge crossing the Runnins River, a boardwalk and bog bridging. Bog bridges are walking surfaces over wetlands.
The project has been a successful collaboration between town departments and committees, says Miller. The Seekonk Land Conservation Trust and the Community Preservation Committee worked to secure funding to purchase the land. “Everybody is really excited about it. It’s been great having so much help. All the departments pitched in to help out,” Miller said. The Department of Public Works, Town Hall staff, Police and Fire Departments all came together to help haul in materials and build the bridge over the Runnins River.
The project was made possible when Seekonk Town Meeting in 2010 approved the purchase of 4.3 acres of land using Community Preservation Committee funds. Then in June 2015 Town Meeting approved additional Community Preservation funds for the trail construction. Together with private donations and state grant funding, a professional trail building firm, TrailBuilders, was hired to design, construct and install the new trail elements.
Work on the new connector trail, which is about a half mile, began in October. The trail begins at the end of the YMCA’s trail and goes along the Runnins River. A pedestrian bridge crosses the Runnins River so that the trail can connect to the parcel purchased in 2010. The trail then goes through the marshland and upland forest to Arcade Avenue where sidewalk can be used to reach the Turner Reservoir Loop trails. “It’s a neat section because it goes over the wetlands and the river,” Miller said. “It allows trail users to enjoy a bigger section of the trail.”
An official ribbon cutting for the new trail is being planned for early spring 2017 when the weather is warmer and signage has been installed on the trail.
Laura Calverley
Walking and hiking enthusiasts have a new trail in Seekonk to explore. A new walking trail has been built connecting the trails behind the Newman YMCA and Seekonk Town Hall all the way to the Turner Reservoir loop and beyond. The Runnins River Trail Connection Project was finished at the end of December except for a few additions such as signage which will be installed in the spring. The trail offers residents increased recreational opportunities and pedestrian access to the YMCA and Town Hall, says Conservation Agent Jennifer Miller. Hikers will enjoy several unique elements of the trail including a pedestrian bridge crossing the Runnins River, a boardwalk and bog bridging. Bog bridges are walking surfaces over wetlands.
The project has been a successful collaboration between town departments and committees, says Miller. The Seekonk Land Conservation Trust and the Community Preservation Committee worked to secure funding to purchase the land. “Everybody is really excited about it. It’s been great having so much help. All the departments pitched in to help out,” Miller said. The Department of Public Works, Town Hall staff, Police and Fire Departments all came together to help haul in materials and build the bridge over the Runnins River.
The project was made possible when Seekonk Town Meeting in 2010 approved the purchase of 4.3 acres of land using Community Preservation Committee funds. Then in June 2015 Town Meeting approved additional Community Preservation funds for the trail construction. Together with private donations and state grant funding, a professional trail building firm, TrailBuilders, was hired to design, construct and install the new trail elements.
Work on the new connector trail, which is about a half mile, began in October. The trail begins at the end of the YMCA’s trail and goes along the Runnins River. A pedestrian bridge crosses the Runnins River so that the trail can connect to the parcel purchased in 2010. The trail then goes through the marshland and upland forest to Arcade Avenue where sidewalk can be used to reach the Turner Reservoir Loop trails. “It’s a neat section because it goes over the wetlands and the river,” Miller said. “It allows trail users to enjoy a bigger section of the trail.”
An official ribbon cutting for the new trail is being planned for early spring 2017 when the weather is warmer and signage has been installed on the trail.
2016
2016 Seekonk TV9: Runnins River Trail Project Update
2016: Sun Chronicle: New walking trail opens in Seekonk
December 26, 2016
BY JOSEPH S. SIEGEL / FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE
SEEKONK - A new walking trail is about to open in town.
The Runnins River Trail Connection project has been completed and will be open by the end of the month.
The trail connects the YMCA/Town Hall Trail to the Turner Reservoir Loop and beyond.
The connector increased recreational opportunities and pedestrian access to the YMCA and Town Hall, Conservation Agent Jennifer Miller said.
The new trail's amenities include bog bridging, a pedestrian bridge across the Runnins River and a boardwalk.
The Seekonk Land Conservation Trust and the Community Preservation Committee joined together to raise private donations and obtain state grants and town funding to purchase the land for the trail connection and hire the professional trail building firm, TrailBuilders, to design, construct and install the trail elements.
The department of public works, town hall employees and members of the police and fire departments assisted in transporting materials and building the bridge over the Runnins River.
There will be an official ribbon cutting for the trail next spring.
BY JOSEPH S. SIEGEL / FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE
SEEKONK - A new walking trail is about to open in town.
The Runnins River Trail Connection project has been completed and will be open by the end of the month.
The trail connects the YMCA/Town Hall Trail to the Turner Reservoir Loop and beyond.
The connector increased recreational opportunities and pedestrian access to the YMCA and Town Hall, Conservation Agent Jennifer Miller said.
The new trail's amenities include bog bridging, a pedestrian bridge across the Runnins River and a boardwalk.
The Seekonk Land Conservation Trust and the Community Preservation Committee joined together to raise private donations and obtain state grants and town funding to purchase the land for the trail connection and hire the professional trail building firm, TrailBuilders, to design, construct and install the trail elements.
The department of public works, town hall employees and members of the police and fire departments assisted in transporting materials and building the bridge over the Runnins River.
There will be an official ribbon cutting for the trail next spring.
2016 Annual Letter from President
November 28, 2016
Dear Friends,
During 2016, the Seekonk Land Conservation Trust continued its leadership role in preserving open land and in extending the system of hiking trails in town. Citizens at the June Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly to authorize expenditure of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds for $300,000 to purchase the Young farm, which consists of 20.5 acres of pasture and forest between Chestnut and Elm Streets. Trail construction is currently underway with crews placing boardwalks over wetlands behind Town Hall and installing a bridge over the Runnins River. The new trail will link up the trail around the Turner Reservoir and Gamino Pond with the current trails behind the YMCA and Town Hall.
The Land Trust has played a major role in initiating both projects and then following through on their completion. Our land-acquisition consultant, Stephen Sloan has extensive expertise and experience in conservation matters and advised the Youngs on procedures necessary to secure CPA funding. Without his timely work, this land might have been sold for development. We are grateful to Richard and Marilyn Young for their care of the land and making their property available at much lower than the appraised value.
The Land Trust was awarded $50,000 from the State and another $10,000 from a private foundation to help pay for the trail with the bridge over the Runnins River. The Land Trust also worked with town officials and the Community Preservation Committee to get $95,000 allocated from Community Preservation Act funds to cover the remaining costs of building the trail. The appropriation of the funds was approved at the June 2015 Town Meeting and covers that expense of installing walkways over the wetlands and constructing a bridge over the Runnins River. A walk behind Town Hall will show you the progress of the trail. We are hoping to be part of a Trail Opening celebration sometime in the Spring.
In 2017 we will mark the 50th Anniversary of the Land Trust, which Mary Wilson helped form in 1967. Since then 306 acres have been donated to the Land Trust to manage, and we hold Conservation Restrictions on an additional 166 acres. Over the past seven years since the adoption of the Community Preservation Act, we have helped facilitate Agricultural Preservation Restrictions on 100 acres and the acquisition of 130 acres of open land by the Town. The grand total of land preserved is 704 acres or 1.1 sq. mi. We are pleased to honor the wishes of those families who have preserved their land forever as open space in Seekonk.
Your support of the Land Trust helps pay Stephen Sloan for his valuable expertise in land acquisition. It also helps us be proactive about land stewardship by keeping trails cut and open at both the Martin Reserve across from the Grist Mill and the Cushing property on Chestnut Street. Please take a walk along the trails available both at our land on Allen Avenue in South Seekonk and the clearing around the pond on Lincoln Street.
On other fronts, we continue to fund teachers in Seekonk schools for field trips and other environmental activities and also to fund the Environmental Resource Center at the Seekonk Library. At our annual meeting, we enjoyed the presentations by biology students from Seekonk High School showing results from their studies of the Runnins River. We have supported this hands-on research for over a decade.
Please check out our activities on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/SeekonkLCT) and on our web site (www.seekonklandtrust.org).
The best of holiday greetings to you,
Thompson Webb
President, Seekonk Land Conservation Trust
Dear Friends,
During 2016, the Seekonk Land Conservation Trust continued its leadership role in preserving open land and in extending the system of hiking trails in town. Citizens at the June Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly to authorize expenditure of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds for $300,000 to purchase the Young farm, which consists of 20.5 acres of pasture and forest between Chestnut and Elm Streets. Trail construction is currently underway with crews placing boardwalks over wetlands behind Town Hall and installing a bridge over the Runnins River. The new trail will link up the trail around the Turner Reservoir and Gamino Pond with the current trails behind the YMCA and Town Hall.
The Land Trust has played a major role in initiating both projects and then following through on their completion. Our land-acquisition consultant, Stephen Sloan has extensive expertise and experience in conservation matters and advised the Youngs on procedures necessary to secure CPA funding. Without his timely work, this land might have been sold for development. We are grateful to Richard and Marilyn Young for their care of the land and making their property available at much lower than the appraised value.
The Land Trust was awarded $50,000 from the State and another $10,000 from a private foundation to help pay for the trail with the bridge over the Runnins River. The Land Trust also worked with town officials and the Community Preservation Committee to get $95,000 allocated from Community Preservation Act funds to cover the remaining costs of building the trail. The appropriation of the funds was approved at the June 2015 Town Meeting and covers that expense of installing walkways over the wetlands and constructing a bridge over the Runnins River. A walk behind Town Hall will show you the progress of the trail. We are hoping to be part of a Trail Opening celebration sometime in the Spring.
In 2017 we will mark the 50th Anniversary of the Land Trust, which Mary Wilson helped form in 1967. Since then 306 acres have been donated to the Land Trust to manage, and we hold Conservation Restrictions on an additional 166 acres. Over the past seven years since the adoption of the Community Preservation Act, we have helped facilitate Agricultural Preservation Restrictions on 100 acres and the acquisition of 130 acres of open land by the Town. The grand total of land preserved is 704 acres or 1.1 sq. mi. We are pleased to honor the wishes of those families who have preserved their land forever as open space in Seekonk.
Your support of the Land Trust helps pay Stephen Sloan for his valuable expertise in land acquisition. It also helps us be proactive about land stewardship by keeping trails cut and open at both the Martin Reserve across from the Grist Mill and the Cushing property on Chestnut Street. Please take a walk along the trails available both at our land on Allen Avenue in South Seekonk and the clearing around the pond on Lincoln Street.
On other fronts, we continue to fund teachers in Seekonk schools for field trips and other environmental activities and also to fund the Environmental Resource Center at the Seekonk Library. At our annual meeting, we enjoyed the presentations by biology students from Seekonk High School showing results from their studies of the Runnins River. We have supported this hands-on research for over a decade.
Please check out our activities on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/SeekonkLCT) and on our web site (www.seekonklandtrust.org).
The best of holiday greetings to you,
Thompson Webb
President, Seekonk Land Conservation Trust
May 2016 Spring Town Meeting
Warrant Article 15: An Opportunity to Protect the Calner-Young Farm
Article 15: Purchase of Young Farm
2015
Pending for November 2015 Town Meeting
Article 13: Creation of New Walking Trail Along Runnins River (Pending Proposal)
2014
2014: Town Votes to Preserve More Land at June Meeting
Article 16: Preserves 70 acres of fields, forests and wetlands (Passed)
Article 17: Permanently Preserves 36 acres of Farmland and Good Habitat (Passed)
2014: Community Preservation Act Funds Put to Good Use
After passing CPA in the spring of 2009, the town of Seekonk did not waste any time putting their CPA dollars to good use. The town has appropriated CPA funds to place two Agricultural Preservation Restrictions (APRs) on sizable plots of farmland, and in doing so leveraged $888,000 from the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture... (Community Preservation Coalition)
2011-12
2011-12: 30 Acres Preserved for Farming
Article 11: Preserves 68 acres of Seekonk Farmland Forever (Passed)
The Sun Chronicle: Preserving Farmland (Yaghjian)
Arthur Yaghjian honored his family legacy Wednesday by permanently preserving 30 acres of farmland on South Wheaton Avenue. The land is being preserved through the Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program of the state's Department of Agricultural Resources... (The Sun Chronicle)
Patch: Seekonk Voters and Land Trust Preserve a Family Farm
Voters agreed to use $180,000 for the purpose of preserving the Yaghjian family farm... (Patch)