Wright Farm Purchase Approved

Easy approval capped off Lexington's annual Town Meeting.

After many nights and many hours, Lexington’s annual Town Meeting concluded Wednesday, May 16, with the quick and decisive approval of a plan to purchase most of the Wright Farm property. The land is to be acquired for a little more than $3.1 million, including $2.95 million for the land itself and another approximately $150,000 in additional expenses. In its recommendation last month, the Community Preservation Committee recommended $500,000 to be paid up front, with the remainder to be bonded. A small portion of the property, which includes a farmhouse and barn, will be retained by the seller and occupied by a member of the Wright family. The town retains the first right of refusal on that parcel. Located in the northwest corner of …

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A Refresher On the Wright Farm Proposal On Tap Tonight

Articles 9 and 10, dealing with the Wright Farm land acquisition, are on the agenda for what could be the final session of annual Town Meeting.

Annual Town Meeting is almost two months old, but could conclude tonight as Articles 9 and 10, along with a few smaller items, are all that remains on the warrant. Articles 9 and 10, of course, are nearly identical proposals to purchase a large portion of the Wright Farm property on Grove Street. The latter article is a Plan B, which would have been moved if the plans did not include conservation, which they do. As it is, the proposal goes before annual Town Meeting with support from the Board of Selectmen, Conservation Commission and the Community Preservation Committee. The CPC has recommend the purchase of about 13.5 acres of the Wright Farm property for conservation purposes, with $500,000 paid up front, with the remainder of the $2.95…

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: May 9

Town Meeting, Wellman report data, high school sports and more today in Lexington.

1. Town Meeting's Back in Action: Annual Town Meeting reconvenes at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Cary Hall to take up remaining articles dealing with the Wright Farm Land Acquisition and a request to rezone the Dana Home and an adjacent property to allow for redevelopment as a hotel and restaurant known as the Inn at Hastings Park. 2. School Committee Looks to Counsel on Wellman Report Data: The School Committee is meeting at 3 p.m. today at the Town Office Building and its agenda includes a discussion with School Committee Counsel and Town Counsel regarding the data collected from staff and relied upon as the basis for the Wellman Report.  3. Today in High School Sports: The Lexington High School sports schedule for today includes boys varsity …

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: May 7

Wright Farm, Inn at Hastings Park back before the Board of Selectmen, a Community Task Force survey now online, a Wild and Edible Walk and more today in Lexington.

1. Wright Farm/Inn at Hastings Park Back at the BOS: The Board of Selectmen is meeting at 7 p.m. tonight at the Town Office Building and its agenda includes a discussion of and motion on a Wright Farm Letter of Intent, approval of wineries for the Lexingotn Farmers Market and a Memorandum of Understanding for the Inn at Hastings Park. 2. Community Center Task Force Survey: It's now online and available through June 30. 3. Wild and Edible Walk: Expert forage Russ Cohen will lead a Wild and Edible Walk pointing out and educating about at least 18 of the tastiest wild plant species in our midst before a lunch at nourish restaurant in Lexington. From 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., call 781-674-2400 or 508-641-0878 for more details. 4. Turtle Island: …

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Wright Farm Letter of Intent Almost Inked

The Selectmen took some time to assure Lexington that they are nearing a position to sign a letter of intent between the Town and the owners of Wright Farm for its sale.

  Thursday night at their board meeting, the Selectmen expressed that they have a letter of intent completed between the Ttwn and the seller of Wright Farm on 241 Grove Street, Kathleen Wright. The major understanding of the night that was recently added to the letter of intent was that the property will not be subjected to any back taxes if purchased by the Town. A bid to purchase a large portion of the Wright Farm property will go before annual Town Meeting with support from the Board of Selectmen, Conservation Commission and, as of April 20, the Community Preservation Committee. The parcel not included in the proposed purchase only 43,446 feet, but contains the historic old farm steads. The Selectmen had a very short discussion about …

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: May 3

Selectmen to discuss Town Meeting articles, artists, meetings and more today in Lexington.

1. Wright Farm, Inn at Hastings Park: The Board of Selectmen is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. this evening at Cary Hall, and its agenda includes discussions of the Wright Farm Letter of Intent and the Inn at Hastings Park covenant/Memorandum of Understanding. 2. "Artists at Work: Four Lexington Artists Talk about Their Work": At 7 p.m. this evening at Cary Memorial Library, four Lexington artists -- Judith Cooper, Lynne D. Klemmer, Emily Passman and Karen Watson -- will bring the audience behind the scenes of the creative process and find out how art is actually created. 3. Record-keeping for Special Needs Families: Special needs families in need of help getting organized may want to check out Let's Get Organized: Record-keeping for …

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: April 25

No Town Meeting, but news about Town Meeting and more today in Lexington.

1. Dana Home/Inn at Hastings Park at Planning Board: The Planning Board is meting at 6 p.m. this evening at the Town Office Building and its agenda includes Article 34.  2. BOS to Discuss Wright Farm, Inn at Hastings Park: The Board of Selectmen is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. at the Town Office Buiding and its agenda includes a temporary bicycle parking pilot program, a Wright Farm discussion and considering an Inn at Hastings Park memorandum of understanding. 3. Free ACT Test: There's a free ACT practice test being offered at 5:30 p.m. today at Lexington High School. Bring a calculator, a few number 2 pencils and a snack!  Sign up at www.kaptest.com with event code AKKA9200. 4. Get Patched In: Did you know you can receive daily headlines …

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Town Meeting Wraps Up -- Until May 9

Monday night had Town Meeting rolling along. Below is a rundown of articles and actions from the seventh night of Lexington's annual Town Meeting.

  Annual Town Meeting worked through most of its remaining business on Monday, April 23,  before adjourning until Wednesday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. when high interest articles dealing with Wright Farm and the Dana Home hit the floor.  Here's a look at Monday night's action at Cary Hall: Article 4 - Appropriate FY2013 Operating Budget (amendment) Motion: Line item 2210 (payment on funded debt) reconsidered that $4,367,186 be changed to $4,767,186. Vote: Passed unanimously. What it means: $400,000 more will be appropriated into the FY2013 operating budget for payment on funded debt to “ease the taxpayer's debt burden” according to the selectmen. Article 5: Appropriate FY2013 Enterprise Fund Budgets Motion: To approve both the Water and Sewer …

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