1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3700 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3282
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
James Arciero and John J. Cronin
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act authorizing the town of Westford to release agricultural preservation restrictions over
land owned by Westford Gateway, LLC.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:James Arciero2nd Middlesex1/17/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3700 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3282
By Representative Arciero of Westford and Senator Cronin, a joint petition (accompanied by
bill, House, No. 3282) of James Arciero (by vote of the town) that the town of Westford be
authorized to release agricultural preservation restrictions over certain land owned by Westford
Gateway, LLC. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. [Local Approval Received.]
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 4964 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act authorizing the town of Westford to release agricultural preservation restrictions over
land owned by Westford Gateway, LLC.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the town of
2Westford may execute a certificate of release over so much of the agricultural preservation
3restrictions granted to the town of Westford by Keith A. Bohne and Nanci Bohne as lies within
4the limits of lands to be acquired by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation in
5connection with the rehabilitation of Boston road in Westford, Massachusetts. The agricultural
6preservation restrictions are described in: (i) book 8569, page 242 dated May 15, 1997 recorded
7in the Middlesex north registry of deeds; (ii) book 9155, page 153 dated March 26, 1998
8recorded in the Middlesex north registry of deeds; and (iii) book 10124, page 169 dated May 3,
91999 recorded in the Middlesex north registry of deeds. The agricultural preservation restrictions 2 of 3
10are shown on a plan of land entitled “Compiled Plan of Land 66 Boston Road Westford,
11Massachusetts” dated May 6, 1997 and recorded in plan book 194, page 7 in the Middlesex north
12registry of deeds. The transfer of such land shall be subject to and completed in accordance with
13the requirements of this act.
14 (b) The lands over which the certificate of release shall apply are located along the
15northeasterly side of Boston road and shown as parcels 20-E-1, 20-GR-PUE-2 and 20-PUE-14
16on a preliminary right of way plan entitled “Proposed – Not to Scale Project #609035 Westford –
17Westford Gateway, LLC Parcel Sketch – 01-30-24” except as otherwise noted, to be filed with
18the Chief Engineer of the highway division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation,
19and recorded with the Middlesex north registry of deeds.
20 (c) All parcels to be used for this construction project shall be restored to their condition
21prior to the construction project to protect the conservation values of the surrounding lands.
22 SECTION 2. As mitigation for the release described in section 1, the Massachusetts
23Department of Transportation shall provide funding in lieu of replacement land to the town of
24Westford, which shall be not less than 110 per cent of the fair market value or value in use of the
25impacted lands, whichever is greater, as determined by an independent appraisal. The town of
26Westford shall deposit such sum into its Community Preservation Fund and dedicate it solely for
27the acquisition of land for conservation or agricultural preservation purposes. The town of
28Westford shall use such funds within 3 years to acquire replacement land which is in a
29comparable location, of equal or greater natural resource value as determined by the secretary of
30energy and environmental affairs, and of equal or greater acreage and monetary value, as 3 of 3
31determined by an independent appraisal of the fair market value or value in use, whichever is
32greater, of the impacted lands.
33 SECTION 3. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation shall assume all costs
34associated with engineering, surveys, appraisal, deed preparation and other expenses necessary to
35execute the release authorized in section 1.
36 SECTION 4. Except as partially released in accordance with this act, the agricultural
37preservation restrictions identified in section 1 shall remain in full force and effect.
38 SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon its passage.