Adams' Rail Trail Easements Go To Eminent Domain
ADAMS, Mass. — Securing easements for the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail to extend through the Adams Corporate Park has come to eminent domain.The Board of Selectmen regrettably approved the warrant for a special town meeting on Monday, Dec. 5, that includes taking about 12,000 square feet from Adams Plumbing and Heating and about 39,000 square feet from Stephentown Management Group, better known as Atlantis Equipment. The land taking will give the town access to construct the rail trail extension from Hoosac Street to Lime Street.
"At the town meeting, I will not vote for eminent domain but I will vote for this motion to put it to the voters," board member Michael Ouellette said. "I don't support using eminent domain for this project."
The town has $2.5 million in federal funds hinging on those easements. Voters had approved at the annual town meeting to accept easements from property owners in the park at no cost to the town. However, while the town is still negotiating with one of those last two tenants — though town officials declined to specify which one — the other has refused.
"We just thought that our negotiations weren't going any further," Town Administrator Jonathan Butler said.
The board has been split in which approach to take with the final two tenants. While some were pushing for eminent domain, others felt the town should redesign the project to accommodate them. Ultimately, the board will now leave it to voters to decide.
The businesses would receive about $5,000 each but the specific dollar amount has not been determined and will be amended from the floor, Butler said.
Voters will also be asked to decide on giving Conserve Thru Control, or CTC Inc., a tax break to move its business from the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art to the Corporate Park. The tax increment financing agreement would exempt the company from property taxes in the first year of moving to town and the tax breaks will decrease by 20 percent each year.
"This is a good example of setting up a good TIF agreement," Chairman Arthur "Skip" Harrington said.
The company was founded in Adams but moved when it grew. Now, with a new building in the park, the company is looking to come back and bring 20 or so jobs with it.
Also, voters are being asked to appropriate already available funds of $120,000 to the veterans benefits budget line. The town, as well as many neighboring municipalities, have seen a sharp increase in benefit requests. The $120,000 is hoped to finish out the fiscal year and is a drastic change from the about $20,000 the town had budgeted.
Butler said the increase in local towns is driven by state officials directing more veterans to see the town as well as an increase in soldiers returning from war. The board fully supported the additional funds.
"I am totally in favor of doing whatever we need to do to take care of our veterans," Harrington said.
A final warrant article is asking voters to change the name of a section of Print Works Drive to Renfrew Street.
The warrant is available below.
Adams Special Town Meeting Warrant 2011
Tags: Adams Corporate Park, Ashuwillticook Rail Trail,
