Land Swap

Proposed Land Swap

Global Property Developers and the Livingstone Company are requesting to exchange 27 acres of privately-owned land for 1.8 acres of town land – a swap that would allow Bartlett Fields to have direct access to Route 3A.

Current plans have developers building an access road to Bartlett Fields from Booth Hill Road. The exchange would allow for the 252 apartments to be directly connected to Route 3A.

The exchange requires the approval of two-thirds of Town Meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, April 13, at Scituate High School. The Scituate Advisory Committee recommended this warrant article with a vote of 8-1 in favor of it. We encourage residents to VOTE YES ON THE ARTICLE.

• The swap has the support of the Board of Selectmen and the Town Advisory. The Board of Selectmen voted 4-1 to and the Town Advisory voted 8-1 to endorse the article because of the economic benefits for Scituate.
• The swap improves public safety. When Bartlett Fields is complete, access to Route 3A for a high-density development will be better for our local neighborhoods, diverting traffic from Booth Hill Road. Access to Route 3A will also be better for our police officers and firefighters to be able to respond more quickly and easily.
• The swap adds more open space and green space. In the town’s 2009 Open Space and Recreation Plan, hundreds of residents cited more walking trails and bike paths as a priority. Adding 27 acres of land — 16 which can be developed — is a great move for Scituate.
• The swap increases town land. Scituate’s Conservation Commission has spent much of the last 15 years purchasing land for the option of public use. The swap adds 25 acres of woodland to the town, without residents having to spend any money.
• The swap makes a great project better. Global Property Developers and the Livingstone Company collaborated to create the very successful Whitcomb Pines development – 40 beautiful homes near Mann Lot Road. The team is putting together a great proposal for Bartlett Fields, and the project will improve with Route 3A access.

Frequently Asked Questions about the swap:

Is this a 40B development?

Yes, Bartlett Fields will be built under the state’s 40B law, and 25 percent of the housing units will be affordable and more marketable for our teachers, firefighters, and town employees looking for a high-quality home at a good price. Bartlett Fields will help Scituate get closer to the 10 percent threshold – bringing the town up five percentage points.

The Bartlett Fields team – Global Property Developers and the Livingstone Company – have demonstrated success, and sensitivity to the Scituate community, on 40B projects. The same team developed the 40-unit Whitcomb Pines housing development, which was built under 40B. The team understands how to build a 40B development that is great for Scituate.

Is the completion of Bartlett Fields dependent on the approval of this land swap?

Developers intend to move forward with Bartlett Fields regardless of the results of Town Meeting. If the land swap is not approved, Bartlett Fields’ residents will use Booth Hill Road for entry and exit. The land swap allows for less impact on the existing local community.

Why should we take such a great deal? It seems too good to be true.

The Board of Selectmen asked the developers to create a fair compromise to secure the land. The Board of Selectmen voted to submit the proposal for 27 acres to Annual Town Meeting because they see the land as representing a significant public benefit. The development team agreed to the swap 27 acres because it believes in the importance of Bartlett Fields. Further, as a local team with local ties. They know that Route 3A access is important to success and they care about having a successful project – rather than simply turning a profit.

What are the potential uses of the 27 acres?

Town residents will get to decide how to use the new land. Eleven acres of the 27 will be under a conservation restriction, which can be lifted by the State Legislature.