46 acres added to land trust

A conservation easement granted to the York Land Trust guarantees that a 46-acre property in York will be protected from development in perpetuity. Mary-Leigh Smart committed her property to the Land Trust, provided it be protected from development and transformed into an artists’ colony after her death. The successful transfer of her land marks the completion of 40 projects in the Agamenticus to the Sea Conservation Initiative, which represents the protection of more than 1,800 acres in that corridor.

“We’re always pleased to get easements that are contiguous to other conserved lands. It’s our goal to create large blocks of un-fragmented conservation land,” said Doreen MacGillis, executive director of the York Land Trust.

In the past 10 years, the land trust has received conservation easements on two properties to the east and west of the Smart land, bringing the total amount of contiguous land under easement to just over 100 acres. Included in the parcel are several hundred feet of coastline, farmland, forests, fields and marshes. The property to the west of the Smart holdings abuts the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, which boasts more than 600 acres of protected land.    

The fragmentation of conservation land by roads, commercial sites or housing developments has a negative effect on wildlife habitat, according to MacGillis. Increases of predators, noise pollution and storm water runoff often result when roads grant access to the interior of forests and other natural spaces. 

If the land had been developed, it would have likely been divided into five separate housing lots, according to an appraisal performed on the property for tax purposes, MacGillis said. Instead, the land will be preserved with some allowances for the expansion of an existing building on the property and, possibly, the construction of another building where artists can stay. 
“We’re always interested in preserving people’s relationships to the land, in addition to the land itself. So, to the extent that this land will provide a place where artists can gain inspiration for their work, the York Land Trust feels good helping to promote that relationship between people and the land,” MacGillis said.

to grow or to grow smart, that is the question

Part of living in a desirable location is accepting the fact that growth is inevitable. The only choice residents can really make is whether they should open the gates to any and all types of development or pursue a policy of smart growth.

“Smart growth” is a planning theory that seeks to concentrate growth in order to avoid urban sprawl. Through long-term, regional considerations, smart growth attempts to develop a sense of community, promote public health, enhance cultural resources, preserve natural resources and expand the range of transportation, employment and housing options.

An upcoming workshop held by the Workforce Housing Coalition and sponsored by the law firm Donahue, Tucker & Ciandella is aimed at giving people the tools they need to make a more informed decision when it comes to growth.

The free workshop, entitled “Consequences of Land Use Policy: Why and How NH
Communities Can Grow Smart” is on Thursday, Nov. 29, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., at Dover City Hall.

“It relates to public policies regarding smart growth and the consequences of those policies regarding workforce housing and other issues,” said Stephanie Guy, of Donahue, Tucker & Ciandella.

The keynote address includes a presentation by demographer Peter Francese, entitled “The Conditions of New Hampshire’s Human Ecology: A Demographic and Economic Perspective,” and a presentation from the N.H. Department of Resources and Economic Development, entitled “Balancing Economic Growth with Resource Preservation/Quality of Life.” The presentations will be followed by two panel discussions, during which planners, builders, housing experts, city officials and others will weigh in on “How Smart Growth Principles Apply to Local and State Land Use Decision Making,” and “Affordable Housing: How Smart Growth Principles Can Help.”

Although the workshop includes a number of Seacoast participants, invitations were sent out across the state. The law firm is planning a second workshop in late winter or early spring, to be held in western New Hampshire. Donahue, Tucker & Ciandella sees the event as a way to raise awareness of issues relating to smart growth and as a marketing event for the firm, Guy said.

“There is an imbalance that we’re starting to see. Younger people can’t afford a place to live in these towns, which means the pool of workers is limited. If they can’t afford to live here, it’s kind of a domino effect. Some towns have workforce housing components, but, often, there is no incentive for developers to come in and (build affordable housing),” she said.
For more information or to RSVP, contact Stephanie Guy at 603-778-0686 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Seating is limited and will be reserved on a first come, first serve basis.