The Maxwell Conservation Trust brought this project to the Community Preservation Committee in 2008, and Town Meeting approved the purchase in Spring 2009.

The Town purchased the 20.6 acres of undeveloped open space land south of Bates Lane in Scituate’s West End from the Hennessey Family Trust for $350,200, plus up to $5,000 for legal costs associated with placing conservation restrictions on the property, for a total project cost of $355,200. The CPC vote was conditioned such that the purchase price of the property could not exceed the appraised value. An appraisal of the property was conducted. The land acquired is a beautiful property, almost entirely upland, heavily wooded, and full of wildlife. It is adjacent to other conservation property in the West End, and is accessible from Bates Lane and Indian Wind Drive.

In addition to preserving quality open space and extending the local trail system for recreational hiking, the property is in a water resource zone and benefits the water preservation efforts of both Scituate and Cohasset.

The above 20.6 was part of a larger property being developed under a flexible open space model. Due to the increasingly limited amount of open space left in Scituate, this type of project may be the most realistic “model” for conserving land in the future, with limited development coupled with preservation.

This project fully meets the requirements of the Town’s CPC goals for open space by enhancing the quality and variety of passive and active recreational opportunities for Town residents, while protecting environmentally sensitive, historic and culturally significant properties.