Committee to consider town ownership of 30 Howland Road property

LAKEVILLE -- Lakeville has formed a committee to look at possibly acquiring property at 30 Howland Road where a developer is seeking to remove millions of yards of earth over a 10-year period.

A 30 Howland Road Property Acquisition Advisory Committee will research the issue and bring back recommendations to the board about the future use of the 565-acre site, select board members have agreed.

The town has expressed interest in the property “for at least 15 years,’’ Town Administrator Andrew Sukeforth  “This is a very important parcel  to the community.’’

The most recent owner, Carl Malloch, is “not closing the door’’ on selling the land.

There would be “a lot of moving parts to this’’ effort, Sukeforth said. Land purchase could involve federal and state officials, land use groups and community preservation funds that are obtained through a portion of tax revenue.

State officials have said they are “very interested’’ in the land, although how much funding might be available is not yet known, he said.

Town ownership would likely result in a tax increase, Sukeforth said.

The committee is being formed at the same time that community members, the Freetown Select Board and the Freetown-Lakeville Regional School Committee and environmental groups have raised concerns about the impact of the earth removal.

Questions have been raised about traffic impact, possible road deterioration, noise and other potential health hazards. Freetown has weighed in because the land is near that community.

 The new advisory committee would include a member of the Select Board, Board of Health, Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Master Plan Implementation Committee and Open Space Committee. Three at-large residents will represent the community.

A final date of Jan. 31, 2027 is being considered for the advisory committee to complete its work and bring it before the select board for further action.

That date could be extended, Sukeforth said, but “I don’t think the owner wants to be waiting around for years’’ for a possible deal.

Select board member Paul Hunt noted that the committee will be charged with “fact-finding,’’ but would not directly negotiate with Malloch.

The committee is slated to be discussed further at the Nov. 4 Select Board meeting.