GROTON — A conservation restriction has been placed on 12 acres of land off Lowell Road owned by Robert Kiley. The land is important to the town because of its proximity to the Baddacook well site, which is one of the town’s major sources of water.
The decision marks the culmination of 20 years of efforts to finally dispose of the land in a proper manner, said Kiley’s attorney, Robert Collins, who called the acreage “a nice piece of property” that will now add to the zone of protection surrounding the well site.
“This has been a very long process,” said Water Department Superintendent Thomas Orcutt. “It’s been a difficult challenge, but it’s done.”
The challenge, according to Collins, was in addressing concerns expressed by the National Forestry Foundation, which owns of a large tract of adjoining property. The concerns were related to continued access to its land via easements through Kiley’s 12 acres.
Allaying those fears through the efforts of the town’s land use boards paved the way for establishing the restriction during the Jan. 16 Board of Selectmen’s meeting. — Pierre Comtois
