Wilmington Selectmen Move To Explore Purchasing Sciarappa Farm

WILMINGTON, MA -- Selectman Michael McCoy convinced a majority of the board to call for a special town meeting during the Annual Town Meeting on May 5 to see if the town should consider purchasing Sciarappa Farm. McCoy claims that an article on the regular town meeting warrant would, if passed, clear the way for local developer Michael Welch to build 760 condominiums on a 76-acre Andover Street parcel. The motion to call a special town meeting passed 3-1 with one abstention at Monday night's Board of Selectman meeting.

Selectmen Edward P. Loud and Kevin A. Caira voted with McCoy on the measure. Gregory B. Bendel abstained from the vote and Michael L. Champoux voted against the measure on the ground that the proposal is being rushed.

Welch has denied McCoy's claims about the scope of the deal, saying he needs to evaluate the land before he can come up with a site plan. He has previously said he hopes to offer houses for older empty-nesters and younger people who are looking for affordable options to stay in town. No plan has been submitted to the Wilmington planning department, so the basis of McCoy's claims are still unclear.

Special Town Meeting would consider whether or not the town should raise money to "acquire by purchase, gift or eminent domain" the property. Groups opposing the project have raised concerns that Wilmington Public Schools are nearing capacity, so the town could theoretically make a case that purchasing the property falls under the definition of "for the public good," a key requirement for the government to take private property by eminent domain.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).