Jackson Farm & Forest Project – WESTFORD, VERMONT

We are very pleased to announce that the Town of Westford and the Pouliot Family have purchased the forestland and farmland associated with the Jackson Farm & Forest Project!

Gratitude & thanks to:

Lynn & David Gauthier

Don & Dale Pouliot

The Haller Family

Bob Heiser, Elise Annes, Rick Peterson & everyone at Vermont Land Trust

Vermont Housing & Conservation Board

Jackson Farm & Forest Project Coordinating Committee
(Dave Adams, Heather Armata, Wendy Doane, Gordon Gebauer, Pat Haller, Jeff Hutchins, Steve Knight, Melissa Manka, Tom Orfeo, Sarah Pinto, Don Pouliot & Alex Weinhagen)

Town of Westford Selectboard

Town of Westford Planning Commission

Town of Westford Conservation Commission

John Roberts, Westford Road Foreman

Town Office Staff

Attorneys – David Rugh, Lori Rupple & Jason Ruwet

Charlie Hancok, Forester

Ethan Tapper, Chittenden County Forester

David Adams, VT Biologist & Jens Hilkes, VT Conservation Planner

Stone Environmental Inc., Green Mountain Engineering Inc., LaRose Surveying P.C., Catamount Color, Rover’s North Inc.

Charles G. Wright Endowment for Humanity

Westford Historical Society

Westford Voters

Generous Donors

Everyone who showed their support!

Vermont Land Trust Press Release

Maple Shade Town Forest

Maple Shade Town Forest Interim Management Plan

We’ve met our fundraising goal!

Thanks to the generosity of many Westford residents, we have met our initial private fundraising goal of $50,000 to help acquire our Town Forest and permanently conserve the historic Jackson Farm.

All remaining gifts that we receive will go to the town’s stewardship of the land and improvements to public access.

Every tax deductible donation to the Jackson Farm and Forest Project will reduce the Town’s reliance on future grants to fulfill these goals for the stewardship and public enjoyment of the Forest!

Completion of sale is expected sometime in June. We will keep you posted on the official completion of the project and a community celebration in late summer or early fall.’

https://www.vlt.org/initiatives/jackson-farm-forest-project

Events & Important Dates

Saturday, October 8th at 1:30 p.m. – Hike the property (meet at school parking lot) ***no dogs please***

Thursday, October 20th at 7 p.m. – Informational Meeting at the Westford Public Library

Saturday, October 22nd at 1:30 p.m.- Hike the property (meet at school parking lot) ***no dogs please***

Thursday, November 3rd at 7 p.m. – Selectboard Public Hearing at the Westford School Gymnasium

Tuesday, November 8th – Vote, 7am-7pm at the Westford School Gymnasium

November 8th Vote Results – Passed

On November 8, the Town of Westford took a step toward creating a legacy for our community when we voted to save the Jackson Farm and establish a new town forest. Congratulations to Westford!

Yes – 812
No – 365

Notice of Sale of Municipal Real Estate

The Town of Westford hereby gives notice to the legal voters of the Town of Westford of Notice of Sale of Municipal Real Estate to convey the development rights, a perpetual conservation easement and restrictions, and a public access easement in and to a 130 acre, more or less, parcel of land located westerly of Brookside Road (Jackson Farm & Forest) to the Vermont Land Trust and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board. Click here to view the notice in its entirety.

Warning & Voting Information

Date of Vote: Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Public Hearing: Thursday, November 3, 2016 at 7 p.m. at the Westford School Gymnasium
Voter Registration Deadline: Wednesday, November 2, 2016 at 5 p.m.
Absentee Ballot Request Deadline: Monday, November 7, 2016 at 5 p.m.
Australian Ballot Voting Hours: Tuesday, November 8, 2016 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the Westford School Gymnasium.

Jackson Farm & Forest Warning
2016 General Election Ballot (front)
2016 General Election Ballot (back)

*Please note, the Jackson Farm & Forest article appears on the back side of the General Election ballot.