Help needed: Lantana Land Grab

News from the Friends of the Blue Hills

Businessman Paul Hart of Cohasset wants to acquire over three acres of undisturbed wooded parkland in the Blue Hills Reservation in Randolph so that he can bulldoze it for a 400-space parking lot for the adjacent Lantana function hall, which he owns.

Ever since he persuaded friendly legislators to pass a bill in 2002 authorizing the state to sell him the parkland, Hart has claimed that paving it over will somehow benefit the Reservation.

Get a grip, Mr. Hart. The Reservation exists to protect land in a natural condition. It is not helped when large chunks are sold and developed.

Massachusetts has had a policy regarding parkland since 1978. That policy requires it "to protect, preserve, and enhance all open space areas" and forbids it to "sell, transfer, lease, relinquish, release, or alienate" such areas.

Earlier this month Mr. Hart asked the state Environmental Secretary to evaluate his scheme for conformance with the policy--a process known as MEPA review. The Massachusetts Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, which manages the Reservation on our behalf, will be asked to declare whether losing the parkland benefits the park. It will be under considerable pressure to say yes.

In return for the land he will purchase and destroy, Mr. Hart proposes to deed to the Reservation a remote and landlocked inholding he acquired in 2001, when it cost about as much as a used car. This land, which fronts on a Rt. 24 off-ramp, has no potential for development. Adding it to the park will not affect its fate. And yet Mr. Hart claims that this transaction compensates the park for the surrender of the much more valuable land near his business, which has been protected by the Reservation since 1936.

This is a scam any child could see through. Buy something shiny and worthless, offer it to your victim, and pretend no one is harmed by the loss of whatever you demand in exchange.

The land Mr. Hart seeks to clear, grade, and pave for 400 cars was acquired for the Reservation with public money from the estate of Olive James of Milton over 70 years ago. It has deep woods, ancient stone walls, ledgy knolls topped with giant brick-colored boulders, and includes the first 250 feet of the Smith Trail. Wildlife that breed in an adjacent vernal pool inhabit it year-round. Undisturbed for generations, it has exactly those qualities that the park was made to preserve.

Therefore we ask that you, our members, help us let the Secretary know that we do not want the Reservation parceled out to abutting business owners. The more of us he hears from, the louder we will be. Please write or email the Secretary as soon as possible at the address below and pass this message on to anyone who you think might do likewise. Let's protect the Blue Hills Reservation for ourselves and future generations.

Sample letter (or email):


Secretary Ian A. Bowles
EOEA, Attn: MEPA Office
Ann Canaday, EOEA No. 14115
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900
Boston MA 02114
ian.bowles@state.ma.us


Dear Secretary Bowles,

I strongly object to the Proposed Article 97 Land Swap, as outlined in the ENF for EOEA no. 14115. I ask you to tell The Hart Family Limited Partnership that they must submit an alternative that is less damaging to parklands and protected open space.

The proposed sale is for private profit, not public benefit. It allows a commercial abutter to convert over three acres of undisturbed and highly conspicuous wooded parkland in the Blue Hills Reservation in Randolph to a 400-space parking lot. We urge you to protect our historic parklands for ourselves and future generations.

Sincerely,

(name and address)


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