[mcdude]

From the Baysider - 12/19

ALTON — The Alton Board of Selectmen met on Wednesday, Dec. 11, and discussed conservation easements near Mount Major, police grants and the Emergency Management 911 Notification System.
The board was missing members Bob Daniels and Cydney Johnson during the meeting.
The board discussed three parcels in town that are being proposed to become conservation easements. The three plots include a 75-acre parcel near the Mount Major trailhead, 100 acres between Mount Major and Straightback and a 450-acre parcel near the end of Reed Road.
Russ Wilder, the head of the Belknap Range Conservation Coalition, Tom Howe, of the New Hampshire Forrest Society (NHFS) and Earl Bagley, the Chairman of the Alton Conservation Commission (ACC), discussed the three parcels.
Howe explained that the three access agreements would cost $230,000 and would come from the land use tax. Howe explained the main reason for putting the parcels into conservation would be to remove the development rights from the parcels.
Chairman Loring Carr questioned the language on what activities were allowed. Howe explained that mountain biking, ATVs or horseback riding could be allowed, but aren’t guaranteed. Howe said it was important to establish a minimum that is guaranteed that includes hiking, walking, snowshoeing and snowmobiling on the trails.
Member Dave Hussey asked about putting a zipline on the property, and Howe said the NHFS could consider any proposal.
Howe said without conservation, any of the private landowners could wake up and say I’m done with the public using my property. Howe reported that 98 percent of the property is privately owned in the area around Mount Major.
Howe said concerns over the parking area, trash and toilet facilities could be addressed in the future if the NHFS takes over the parcels.
Bagley talked about the fire department having to perform rescues and said the fire department could be up much more often than it is now.
Carr suggested that language be added to the agreement that allows for the ACC to meet annually with the NHFS. Carr also suggested that the ACC should be consulted about any major changes to the trails.
The actual acreage of the three parcels is 468 acres, 107 acres and approximately 75 acres. The third parcel hasn’t been surveyed.
The total fundraising goal for the project is $1.8 million and Wilder reported that $940,000 has already been raised. Howe reported that the total purchase price for the three parcels is $1,050,000.
Howe said that the third parcel isn’t a done deal, but a contract has been created for all three parcels with the three owners. Howe said he could get a guarantee from the director of the NHFS about the third parcel. He said the NHFS has closed on every major project it has committed to.
The board voted by a 2-1 vote to approve the $230,000 for the easements, with Hussey opposing over concerns that the deal could fall through, and Carr and member Marc DeCoff voting in favor.