By Jodi Wolfe
Staff Writer

Allenstown selectmen are considering conserving nine parcels of town-owned land for park land and boat launches.

At the Nov. 29 selectmen’s meeting, the Allenstown Conservation Commission presented selectmen with options for the 119.4 acres of land.

Currently there are 15 acres of town-owned forest, not including Bear Brook State Park, which the town doesn’t have any control over.

Previously, selectmen asked the conservation commission to consider how some land could be better used, Selectman Peter Viar said.The commission recommended the town sell some other pieces land and that has already been done, said David Jodoin, Allenstown’s adminstrative assistant.

At the Nov. 29 meeting, conservation commission member Phil Trowbridge told selectmen that development is increasing and the commission would like to conserve land. The commission’s highest priority is putting boat launches on the Merrimack and Suncook rivers, Trowbridge said.

Most of the proposed land is undevelopable due to their locations, Trowbridge said. One piece of land has been on the market for three years and never got a bite, he said.

Residents at the meeting argued that selling the property would decrease the tax revenue.

“The taxes we’re losing to keep them is pretty small,” said Trowbridge.

Conservation commission member David McKay presented selectmen with a plan where the town can make $670 of income from selling timber to offset the tax loss.

Trowbridge pointed out that it would cost the town more money if the land was sold and then the town wanted to buy it back.

Only 44 percent of land in Allenstown is taxable, resident Armand Verville said at the meeting.

“I think it’s a complete insult to the taxpayers if we take more money off the tax roll for conservation,” Verville said.

Bear Brook State Park has approximately 8,000 acres of conserved land, so Verville said the money should go to other things the town needs before conserving land.

Selectmen told conservation commission members they would look at the pieces of property to decide which would be most important to the town.

“I think there are some pieces here that are priority, but not all of them,” Viar said.