Conservation Commission still waiting on city’s explanation about Fernald property

Nearly a month after the Conservation Commission approved a proposed golf course at the former Fernald State School site, the city still has not explained why it hasn’t filed a legally required conservation restriction for the grounds. Based on the commission’s decision, construction on the project will remain paused until the restriction is filed. 

At the commission’s Aug. 13 meeting, conservation agent Julia Abbott confirmed that she had not received any documentation from the city regarding the conservation restriction. The CR is a permanent, legally binding land-use protection that was supposed to have been placed on the Fernald property when the city  purchased it from the state using Community Preservation Act funds in 2014. 

The onus to file the protection is on the city, which has yet to do so. Asked whether she expected anything to be filed, Abbott said it seemed unlikely at this point. 

Commissioner Anja Shafer questioned whether the project was at a standstill and whether the commission’s approval could move forward if the city never provides an explanation for the missing CR.  

Chair Bill Doyle pushed back on the standstill framing, saying the project is technically approved. The only thing paused is construction itself, which can’t begin until the city satisfies the condition set back in July that the city must provide a legal justification for proceeding without the conservation restriction in place. 

Doyle noted that many other projects have broken ground at the Fernald property, both inside and outside the commission’s jurisdiction, leaving little basis to treat the proposed golf course differently. But the condition, once voted, stands regardless.

The commission directed Abbott to send a follow-up letter to the mayor’s office, city clerk and law department, asking that the condition be addressed before any construction begins on the golf course.