Jones PDR - NHRegister on press conference

The NH Register Oct31 has an article today, but it isn't available online. The text:

"Voters will decide on preserving farmland"

Cristmas trees, vineyards and views of the countryside are among the attractions of the 130 acres "Homestead Acres" portion of the Jones Family Farm.

On Nov7, voters have the opportunity to decide if they want to spend $4.3 million to make sure the property stays undeveloped farmland permanently.

A referendum question asks: "Shall the resolution appropriating $4,300,000 for the acquisition of a conservation easement in land consisting of approximately 130 acres known as the Jones Family Farm for its preservation in perpetuity as farmland, and authorizing the issue of $4,300,000 bonds of the city to meet said appropriation, be approved?

On Friday, members of the Jones family and local conservation leaders gave members of the media tours of the property and spoke about why they hope residents will vote "yes".

Owner Terry Jones addressed the question of why residents should purchase the conservation easement when he has no desire to sell the land to developers anyway."

Although right here and now, we wouldn't want to sell it, we don't know what would happen with future generations," Jones said. "There is the estate tax issue. This would eliminate the concern of part of the farm having to be sold to cover the estate tax."

Jones said the financial situation of future generations could change. He also sheard of other farms being affected by divorce settlements, for example.

"You never know, future generations may not wish to farm it," he said. "There are a number of concerns."

Under the proposal, the land would continue to be owned and maintained by the Jones family, which would still pay taxes on it.

Thomas Harbinson, chairman of the Conservation Commission, said the value of the purchase of the development rights is actually $6.8 million. The Jones family is reducing the cost by $1.7 million, he said. The US Department of Agriculture is providing a $910,106 grant toward it. The remainder, or the city's share, is the $4.3 million being requested in the referendum."

We don't want people to be surprised when they walk into the voting booth," Harbinson said, "If this doesn't work out, we'll lose the ($1.7 million) gift and ($910,106) grant, and there is the potential of homes being put here in the future."

Harbinson asserted that the price is worth it. He said if homes were built on the property, it would mean additional cost to taxpayers for education and services. Harbinson said he doesn't know yet if there is any opposition to the proposal among residents. Officials wanted to make sure residents are aware of the referendum question before they visit their polling places Nov.7 he said.

"It is in the city's interests to have people come here to get pumpkins and Christmas trees," Harbinson said. Voting "yes" is a statement by the community that it wants this to continue."

The parcel is one portion of the Jones family's property. Harbinson said the family's entire landholdings include about 400 acres. Pumpkinseed Hill, which has pumpkins growing there, is a 92 acre portion of the family property and it was preserved in 1998.

"The majority of the rest of their property has been preserved already," Harbinson said.

Mayor Mark Lauretti, said he is "all for" the proposal. "It is part of our plan of development," Lauretti said. "It fits in with what we have been doing in the last decade in terms of open space preservation. It is a beautiful area."