Lantana Land Swap Update

Secretary Ian Bowles has responded to Lantana function hall’s proposal to bulldoze 3 acres of Blue Hills Reservation to construct a parking lot. (To see the Secretary’s letter, click here.)

We were pleased that the Secretary requires Lantana to update its woefully outdated appraisal of the prime wooded parkland that this private developer intends to destroy for a parking lot. A fair market appraisal will demonstrate how Lantana is proposing a raw deal for all of us in the Commonwealth. Lantana is trying to purchase this property for less than 1/4 of its estimated value. We have written the Department of Conservation and Recreation to insist that DCR require an appraisal that will show the true value of this property.

We were disappointed that the Secretary accepted Lantana’s DEIR, even though the proponent demonstrated no public purpose, failed to consider obvious alternatives and restricted the analysis of alternatives so that they appear to be impractical. Although over 100 people and organizations submitted comments in response to Lantana’s DEIR, the Secretary is not requiring Lantana to address the concerns raised in these letters.

We look forward to working with all of you to make sure Lantana function hall is not allowed to swap almost nothing for over three acres of prime wooded Reservation land.