By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

Town officials are eyeing 600 acres of north Weare property for possible use as a town forest and conservation land.

The land, valued at about $2 million, would need to be paid for in part through a bond, but officials got some good news shortly before a Monday, Jan. 16, public hearing on the property, owned by Frank Ferrante.

Trustees of the Mildred Hall trust fund announced they may be willing to cover up to half of the potential bond amount, estimated at $1.5 million.

“I was floored,” said Weare Conservation Commission Member and Weare Open Space Committee Chairman Steve Najjar. “That was shocking. It was really great.”

The Ferrante land runs east of Route 114, north of Route 77, west of Hatfield Road, up to the Weare town line. The land also runs partially behind John Stark Regional High School. Najjar said the land also connects with protected land in both Weare and Hopkinton, and its preservation would create a large area of contiguous wildlife habitat.

“That property is really important from a conservation standpoint,” he said, at a Monday, Jan. 16, public hearing.

Najjar said the purchase – if a bond were approved by 60 percent of Weare voters – would also require money from the town forest account, the town conservation fund, and some private funds.

Weare residents speaking at the recent public hearing seemed overwhelmingly in support of conserving such a large portion of undeveloped land in light of the recent regional growth.

“I've seen an awful lot of growth,” said Weare resident and longtime Public Service of New Hampshire employee Dell Rice. “There is not a limitless amount of land in this state.”

Najjar suggested that if the town doesn't move quickly to adopt the land, which the owner estimates could support some 110 to 120 new homes, it would soon draw residential developers.

“I think cluster (housing) would be a bad idea in this case,” he said, suggesting that such residential developments ultimately add to the tax burden, as new homeowners require added town services.

“It's a proven fact that open space saves money,” said Weare resident Forrest Esenwine. “We should jump at the chance to get it.”

Selectmen said they plan to firm up the bond proposal and present it at a Jan. 30 public hearing.