Working to preserve open space in Newton for 42 years! tthhee NNeewwttoonn CCoonnsseerrvvaattoorrss NNEEWWSSLLEETTTTEERR Winter Issue www.newtonconservators.org February / March 2003 KESSELER WOODS FOR SALE CPA MAY MAKE PURCHASE POSSIBLE For many it was déjà vu “all over again.” Back in 1997, Boston Edison had hastily put its property at Newton Conservators Lecture Series the intersection of LaGrange and Vine Streets on the market, seeking a quick turnaround. At that time, Don’t Miss Biologist Edison was being pressed by the Attorney General to divest of assets like West Kesseler Woods to offset JON REGOSIN the costs of restructuring and deregulation. After an Tufts University PhD Candidate appeal from then-Mayor Thomas Concannon, the company extended its bidding process from weeks to “FOCUS ON THE VERNAL months to allow the City of Newton time to put together a credible bid for the property—the last POOLS OF NEWTON” large undeveloped parcel of open space in the city. See Article on Page 7 Sound familiar? In January of 2003, NStar, which now owns many of the assets of Boston Wednesday, March 19, 2003 Edison, initiated the same game plan, play for play: 7:00 to 9:00 PM Quick sale through a short bidding process, Druker Auditorium, Newton Free Library effectively leaving the city without the time to prepare a credible offer. Appeal by Mayor Cohen to the company and the AG for a longer bid process. And finally, a four-month reprieve. PRESIDENT’S LETTER The difference this time is that we now have a By Lucy Caldwell-Stair source of funding. With the passage of CPA, the city can join the process with a great deal more West Kesseler Woods - The Missing Link confidence that it had in 1997. Then, after several months of inactivity, Boston Edison took the NStar's upcoming sale of 42-acre Kesseler property off the market. The reason for this decision Woods, located off Vine Street near Brookline was never made clear, but it was welcome because Street in south Newton, presents an extraordinary the city simply had no means for offering a market- opportunity to acquire one of the last remaining (Continued on page 2) (Continued on page 2) Kessler Woods for Sale, continued from page 1 President’s Letter, continued from page 1 based bid for the land. Our best hope at the time was large parcels of open space in Newton. With the for a change of heart that would lead to Edison’s availability of CPA (Community Preservation Act) donation of some parts of the land to the city or funds, the city is in a position to compete for the acceptance of a below-market offer. purchase at least part of the parcel. At an estimated With the agreement by NStar to move it’s bid value of over $12 million, it is likely that part of the deadline from February 21 to June 20, 2003, the city land will end up being developed: some are calling has already begun an aggressive process to prepare for affordable housing. its best offer. Two firms have been hired—an As land conservation supporters and others appraiser and a land planner—to identify the value consider the possibilities, it is useful to get familiar of the property and to develop various scenarios for with the topography of Kesseler Woods, especially best use of the parcel. This work will set the stage the nine-acre portion of the property that appears to for a Request For Proposals through which it is be part of Sawmill Brook Conservation Area, but anticipated that developers will be identified who isn't. will work with the city to acquire and develop a Take a look at the map on page 3, drawn portion of the property, retaining most of it as open recently by Conservator Judy Hepburn for our new space. map guide, Walking Trails in Newton's This pragmatic approach recognizes that Conservation Areas. The shaded portion shows the preservation of the entire 42 acres as open space is land owned by NStar that lies on the west side of not likely to be possible. At current market rates, Vine Street, directly across from the larger Kesseler this property could be worth more than $20 million. parcel. Beyond CPA, funds for open space acquisition Here stands a wooded area that we surely don't through organizations like the Trust for Public Land, want to lose to development. Sawmill Brook is a The Nature Conservancy, Audubon and The Trustees vigorous running stream that overflows during of Reservations are not available for high-cost storms, and parts of the woods are delicate properties in urban areas like Newton. We know this wetlands. The only way to enter the 20-acre because each has looked at West Kesseler Woods in Sawmill Conservation Area from Vine Street is to the past and reached the conclusion that their money walk along the trail through NStar's property, a could go further if used elsewhere. path walkers have taken for years. Our best hope to preserve the majority of this The trail runs along Sawmill Brook, through green space is to work cooperatively with a wooded uplands and over wetlands, and passes developer who is sensitive to our preservation between an opening in the lovely old stone fences, wishes. Our hope is that dense development on a also on NStar property, before returning to the portion of the land will leave most of it as it conservation area and passing by dramatic undeveloped, as it has stood for all of time. The as- puddingstone outcroppings at the Marla Circle end of-right development plan filed by NStar in January of the trail. (showing how the land might be used under current Sawmill Brook Conservation Area connects to zoning rules), identifies 68 oddly shaped parcels that a much larger green corridor running through West consume nearly all of the land. That, we know, is Roxbury and south Newton. A walker can go into the worst possible configuration for this St. Joseph's Cemetery, across Baker Street to Brook environmentally sensitive area. Farm Historic Site. From there, trails lead to There will be public hearings on the proposals Millennium Park, the Charles River Path, across developed by the city for use of this property as the over to Cutler Pond, or on to Nahanton Park. In process unfolds. These will probably come other words, starting at the Vine Street entrance, a sometime in April. In addition, the plan selected by walker can hike for many miles along a series of the city will require approval by the Community linked green spaces. Preservation Committee and the Board of Alderman. Sawmill Brook Conservation Area was These discussions and any associated hearings will acquired by the city in three phases. The northwest be held in late May and June. parcel was bought in 1979. In 1982, the city Doug Dickson (Continued on page 3) Newton Conservators Newsletter 2 President’s Letter, continued from page 2 WHAT MAKES KESSELER acquired the southern parcel from Temple Beth Avodah, and in 1985 acquired the middle parcel. WOODS SPECIAL? Each parcel was financed using state self-help funds. The 42.7 acres of land owned by NStar, known Many of us think it's time for a fourth as West Kesseler Woods, consists of several very acquisition with funds from CPA. This would different zones, each with its own character. complete the link among these existing open The North Parcel (see map on page 4) has three spaces, making them fully accessible to those who, upland sections connected by an extensive wetland now and in the future, seek the benefits of open area. Along Brookline Street is an upland area areas for recreation and environmental protection. (Section A on the map) with dramatic topography, The Newton Conservators, Newton’s open including steep grade changes of up to 20 vertical space preservation advocate and land trust, will be feet. Vegetation in this area includes mature hard at the table working diligently toward this goal. and softwood trees, with large white pines predominating. Along LaGrange Street is another upland area (Section B) with even more dramatic topographical features, including vertical rises of up to 60 feet and large outcrops of Roxbury puddingstone. Trees are mostly mature oaks, with red maples in the lower elevations. The southernmost section of this parcel, at the intersection of Vine and LaGrange Streets (Section C), is a level area covered with mature hardwood trees. The wetland sections consist of about a third of the total area of the North Parcel and are densely vegetated with red maples and wetland shrubs. The South Parcel, also accessible from Vine and LaGrange Streets, consists of mostly upland areas with gentle variations in topography. It has fewer and smaller rock outcrops and the vegetation consists mostly of mature hardwood trees. Several stone walls cross the site. The wetland area of the South Parcel is associated with Sawmill Brook, which flows through a corner of this site, running from one section of Sawmill Brook Conservation Area to the other. Vegetation is typical of wetland areas. As might be expected of a large natural site, this area is home to a great variety of birds and other wildlife. Some plants are rare to the area, though not unique or endangered. The wetland areas provide storm water collection and a flood plain during large storms. A pathway that connects two sections of the Sawmill Brook Conservation Area runs through a South parcel of NStar property and its relationship to existing corner of the South Parcel.