Bioreserve memo inked
Document paves the way for
partnership, land swap
Herald News Staff:6/30/2000
State Secretary of Environmental Affairs Robert Durand can recall that when he was in the state Senate and first heard that Fall River wanted to set aside 300 acres of forest land for industrial use, he was completely opposed to the idea. As chairman of the Senate's Natural Resources Committee, "I said 'over my dead body will that happen,'" Durand recalled. Yet on Thursday, Durand visited this city to sign a memorandum of understanding with Mayor Edward M. Lambert Jr. to ensure just what he vowed would never occur will indeed take place. Under the plan, the city will pay the state $2,6 million for 300 acres of Fall River-Freetown State Forest, and open up this property for industrial expansion.
But there's a big payoff for Durand. In return, the state will obtain a "conservation restriction" on the 4,300 acres of land owned by the city on the Watuppa Reservation. That will allow the state to gradually open all that land up to passive recreation such as hiking, hunting and fishing. "This is an opportunity for a partnership that, maybe a few years ago, could never have been envisioned," said Lambert. "We have a great opportunity in this state to create a great bioreserve," Durand said, during the signing ceremony at Government Center. Noting that tourism will soon be the state's biggest industry, Durand added,"You've already got rich resources in this part of the state, and people will want to come down to see it."
Governor Paul Cellucci also praised the deal during a visit to Fall River on Wednesday. He noted that the state benefits by getting such a large area of land protected, while at the same time "We're also enabling Fall River to get the land it needs for industrial development and continued economic growth."
The agreement helped forge a unique coalition: city leaders pushing for more economic development and environmentalists looking for conservation efforts. "We're very happy this is happening," said Al Lima of the Fall River environmental group Green Futures. "We can't believe this is happening in such a short period of time. We look forward to making it happen in the next year and a half, and creating a wonderful asset for the city of Fall River."
"This protection is phenomenal," said Andy Kendall, director of the nonprofit environmental group, Trustees of Reservations. "I'm very excited about it." City Councilor Brian Pearson added, "I'm also seeing this as protection of our water supply for generations to come."
On the other hand , Lambert noted that it would allow the city to attract new businesses once the additional industrial area becomes available, to complement the city's Industrial Park and new Commerce Park. "It shows how communities can plan on smart growth," Lambert said. "It also recognizes the need for the economic development vitality of cities like Fall River. This is a unique and important plan." He added. "By securing property close to Route 24. we will be able to attract the kind of economic development that will help stimulate our economy and create jobs."
Under the plan. the state will use the city's payment toward the purchase of an additional 3,800 acres of land in eastern Fall River formerly known as Acushnet Saw Mills land, which is owned by the Hawes family. "This is a special day for us," said Peter Hawes. "I feel like I've done the right thing here. My family has been involved with this land for over a century. We really look forward to enjoying the bioreserve out there as much as anyone in the city, and to seeing it realize its potential." The state will pay $9.5 million toward the purchase of that property, and Trustees of Reservations will raise about $2 million, for a total of $14.1 million for the Hawes property. Altogether, the state will be able to open up 8,100 additional acres of open space to the public, and conserve it "in perpetuity." Added to the 6,000 acres of the Fall River-Freetown State Forest, a "bioreserve" of more than 14,000 acres will be created. "It allows this community to be a leader among urban communities," Lambert said.
"This is a great day for me personally," Durand said. "This property we're creating here, will be the first in the state bioreserve, which will provide residents with recreation opportunities while also protecting the drinking supply. Setting up this bioreserve creates this functional landscape, this eco-support system, that will protect the wildlife and plant life there."
The memorandum does not finalize the deal. A two-thirds vote of approval from the state Legislature will be necessary to sell the state land to the city, so the process is just beginning. State Rep, David B. Sullivan, D-Fall River, said he and other area lawmakers plan to work hard to get it passed. "It's really something to see something like this come together," he said, calling the bioreserve "a treasure we have to maintain, and I'm really proud to see this project move forward." Durand agreed that "We've got a lot more work to do. The Herald News editorial was right the other day when it said "The devil is in the details."