In an effort to protect the land for future generations, the Belmont Conservation Commission is taking steps now to ensure Rock Meadow remains safe from development.
The meadow, located on the west side of town, bounded on one side by Concord Avenue, was acquired by Belmont in 1968 using a combination of state, local, and federal dollars, according to Conservation Commission Chair Chris Morris.
According to the Rock Meadow Conservation Master Plan, Rock Meadow encompasses 70 acres that includes meadows, streams, and woodlands. The state Division of Fish and Wildlife has designated the property as an important grassland habitat.
Morris explained that the Belmont Conservation Commission was approached by the Judith Record Fund, a private conservation organization, and challenged to place a conservation restriction on Rock Meadow — specifically, extending Massachusetts Article 97 protections on the property. In exchange, the organization would establish an endowment for the operation and maintenance of the property.
“Within Belmont’s constrained budget, we struggle to get funding to … manage the property properly,” Morris said.
Essentially, extending Article 97 protections adds an additional layer of restrictions on the property, he said.
“What we’re looking for is to try and make sure Rock Meadow stays as conservation land for the long haul,” Morris said. “There are some statistics around what causes conservation land to go away. … We’re just trying to protect Rock Meadow from that future development that might happen.”
At annual Town Meeting in May, Town Meeting members authorized the appropriation of $100,000 from the Overlay Release to start the process of establishing a conservation restriction on the property.
According to Morris, the commission hopes to complete resource mapping and surveying of the property, draft a conservation restriction with town counsel, and establish the legal requirements associated with creating an endowment. There will also be some title research associated with the historical property transaction, he said.
“Additionally, we’d like to take all of this information and create a master plan for public engagement, interacting with our user groups and working to establish property and habitat management,” Morris told Town Meeting members in the spring.
Morris said the commission is working with The Trustees of Reservations, a nonprofit land conservation and historical preservation organization that holds the restriction for Lone Tree Hill. A conservation restriction would require approvals from the Conservation Commission, the Select Board and Town Meeting.
“This is really step one,” Morris said.
The property is open for recreational use, including walking, running, and mountain biking. In the winter, many use the property for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. There are also several active community gardens, beekeeping, and a sheep grazing program.
“For us, it’s about making sure we make the right decisions for the property as we experience climate change … How do we protect the habitat to make sure those [native] species still provide the same functions and values moving forward?”
Additionally, stewardship of the property involves monitoring and controlling invasive species.
The Trustees of Reservations will be at the Conservation Commission meeting on July 16 to discuss Rock Meadow.