Dear Editor,
The property known as the Sciarappa Farm at 333 Andover Street in Wilmington has been in the family for over 100 years. Now, Town Manager Hull and the Select Board is TAKING this property away from the owners by Eminent Domain.
This callous and greedy land grab was started after a meeting between me and Jay Doherty, the CEO of Cabot, Cabot & Forbes (CC&F) with Manager Hull and his staff in November, 2022. Mr. Doherty discussed a proposal to acquire the property and build apartments at the site, which would allow the Town to meet in part the requirements of Housing Choice which is mandated to the Town by Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development. This mandate requires the Town to add a significant number of residential units. But Mr. Doherty’s proposal was far more than just building apartments. He offered to give the Town enough land in a location of the Town’s choice where a fire/police substation would be located, construct a pad on which the building can be built, have nature trails and open space for public use, AND have an athletic complex built that the Town would have priority of use with ice rinks, soccer, lacrosse fields, and other amenities. All at NO COST to the Town! Hull stated that he would talk with the Select Board and the arrange for Mr. Doherty to come before the Select Board to make a presentation.
Five weeks after that November meeting, Mr. Doherty finally was invited to a Select Board meeting. We all waited patiently for the opening of that meeting which was delayed because the Manager was meeting behind closed doors in Executive Session. When the Board and Manager finally came into the room, Manager Hull announced that the Town “has a strong interest” in the land. Nonetheless, Mr. Doherty made his presentation along with a representative of Edge Sports Group who proposes to build the sports complex. After the presentation the Manager and several members of the Select Board made their intentions known that they didn’t want any more housing built in Wilmington. One Select Board member stated that they wouldn’t support changing the zoning of the property which would increase the value because that would WORK AGAINST THE TOWN’S COST OF TAKING THE PROPERTY! Other comments were that apartments are inconsistent with the character of Wilmington, and that there is a need for a fire substation (ignoring the offer of CC&F to GIVE the Town the land and pad for a fire substation).
So, clearly, the plan to take this private property was hatched in secret meetings of the Manager and the Select Board! The family that owns this land has been in Wilmington for over 100 years. How many members of the Select Board can say the same? And Manager Jeff Hull doesn’t even live in Wilmington so he could care less that his legacy when he leaves in October is that he will be the one who orchestrated the taking of private property. This land is more than 62 acres in Wilmington and about 6 acres in Andover. How many acres does the Town need to build a fire substation?
Manager Hull and the Select Board got a last minute Article on the spring Town Meeting warrant approved which granted them the authority to “…acquire by purchase, gift eminent domain or otherwise all or a portion of the property…located at 333 Andover Street…”. They wasted little time in pursuing the power of eminent domain and voted the Taking, again in secret meetings so that no one could hear what was said.
There has been a great deal of misinformation or untruths told by politicians and others who demand that the Town TAKE THE PROPERTY! Many have said that the owners have been given tax breaks over the years and it’s time that the Town get it back. The truth is that when this was an active farm, Chapter 61A of the Massachusetts General Laws allows for such land to be appraised and taxed at a reduced rate. That rate is SET BY THE TOWN. This property hasn’t been an active farm for many years and it is being taxed at the full rate as assessed by the Town. For over 100 years, every penny of every tax bill has been paid in full. When the property was registered under Ch. 61A, the Town had a right of first refusal to match any offer presented to the owners. That option was given to the Town, and the Town never acted on it. Further, in the 25 years that I have represented the owners I have had many conversations with Manager Hull and his predecessor about a sale to the Town. The Town NEVER MADE AN OFFER! Now, faced with the requirement by the State upon the Town to provide for the construction of hundreds of residential units, Hull and the Select Board are TAKING private property well suited to allow for such to try to circumvent their responsibility. It should ne noted that if the Town doesn’t comply with the Housing Choice mandate the State will cut funds and take other punitive action against the Town.
When property is taken by Eminent Domain, the Town sets the price, which of course is far, far less than the real value of the land. The Owners are then forced to hire a lawyer to fight to try to get what they feel they deserve. The Manager and Select Board know this. One of the owners is a widow in her 70s, whose husband was the grandson of the original owner. As you read this, there are crews of people on her land, outside her house, digging and testing her land pursuant to a Taking of an Easement that the Select Board gave itself. The Town even sent a police officer to the property with the crew to make sure that there wasn’t any trouble! What did they expect this woman would do? Talk about strong-arm tactics and intimidation! Can you imagine if this happened to you? How would you feel if you had a good offer to sell your property and the Town Manager and Select Board jumped in and took your property away from you? Is this how you want your Town to treat its citizens?
It is not too late to stop this from happening. If you think that this land-grab is NOT fair or right, if you are angry and upset and feel that this is NOT the reputation that you want for the Town in which you live, then let the Manager and the Select Board know! I urge you to write to the Town Manager and the Select Board and tell them to STOP! Your letters will become part of the public record so no one at Town Hall can say that they didn’t hear any objections. Tell your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and everyone you see what the Town is doing to its citizens. I am convinced that most people in Wilmington are not even aware that their Town Manager and Select Board are doing this! What Manager Hull and the Select Board is doing to these good people is wrong, and you would be fooling yourself if you think that it couldn’t happen to you. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
William F. Crowley
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