June 24, 2011
Massachusetts

Route 44 land buyback pitched in Kingston

By Kathryn Koch, Wicked Local Kingston, www.wickedlocal.com 24 June 2011

KINGSTON —

When the state was preparing for Route 44 expansion, it took land from Kingston that town officials now want back.

Route 44 land acquisition has been listed under old business on Board of Selectmen’s meeting agendas for several years.

Selectman Mark Beaton wants to take action and offer to buy back the land on Route 44 at the Kingston and Plymouth line from the state. He proposes to buy the property back using Community Preservation Act funding for open space purposes.

“We want that property back,” he said.

When the state took ownership of the land, part of Camp Nekon was cut off from the rest. The state took more property than it needed to construct the new Route 44, Beaton said, and doesn’t need it. He said the state benefits from the purchase by improving its cash flow.

Down the road, Beaton said, the land might be a suitable location for a wind turbine. He said it’s located within the wind resource area map of land that could support one.

“It’s a crucial property to the town,” he said Tuesday night, where he gained unanimous support from the other selectmen for sending a letter of interest to the state.

Beaton threw out an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000, but that amount may not be accurate. Town Planner Tom Bott is looking into what would be a fair purchase price.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/06/24/route-44-land-buyback-pitched-in-kingston/