HomeMy WebLinkAboutCPC LOI 150 & 178 Wheeler Road July 2023
1540 Main Street, West Barnstable, MA 02668 Phone: (508) 771-2585 info@blt.org
June 21, 2023
To the Members of the Town of Barnstable Community Preservation Committee:
I am writing to submit this Letter of Intent for funding to preserve land on Wheeler Road in Marstons
Mills, adjacent to Barnstable Land Trust’s Fuller Farm property and connecting to the Town’s Danforth
property.
Project Name: Wheeler Holly Preserve
Owner: Wheeler Realty Trust
Location: 150 and 178 Wheeler Road, Marstons Mills
Acres: 150 Wheeler Road – 7.8 acres
178 Wheeler Road – 1.7 acres
Total – 9.5 acres
Map & Parcel: 150 Wheeler Road – 082011
178 Wheeler Road - 103109002
Purchase Price: $1,825,000
Timeline: Closing in June, 2024
Barnstable Land Trust is working to purchase two parcels totaling 9.5 acres on Wheeler Road in
Marstons Mills. The properties have frontage on Middle Pond and abut the Barnstable Land
Trust’s 22-acre Fuller Farm property. Purchase of these properties will allow for conservation of
high value natural resources and recreation access to a potential trail through the Wheeler
property connecting Fuller Farm, the Town of Barnstable’s Danforth property, and West
Barnstable Conservation area.
The properties have the following important conservation values:
• Have approximately 600 feet of shore front on Middle Pond containing NHESP priority
habitat for rare species
• Half of property lies within BioMap3 – Core Habitat/NHESP
• The entire property lies within BioMap3 – Critical Natural Landscape NHESP
• Contains many specimen holly trees grown by one of the country’s premier holly
nurserymen.
Historic Significance: The properties have been owned by the Wheeler Family for decades and
were one of Wilfrid Wheeler’s holly nurseries for many years.
Timeline for Preserving the Land: The property is under verbal agreement and closing is
scheduled for June 2024 to meet the requirements of the MA Conservation Partnership Grant
and LAND Grant Programs, whose applications are due July 13 and July 17, 2023.
1540 Main Street, West Barnstable, MA 02668 Phone: (508) 771-2585 info@blt.org
Funding Request
Barnstable Land Trust seeks $905,000 in Community Preservation Act funds. CPA funding will
assist in the acquisition of proposed Lots 3 and 4 on the sketch plan below. BLT will support the
Town in applying for a $480,000 LAND grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and
believes the project will be very competitive. The application is due July 13, 2023. In return, the
Town of Barnstable will be given the conservation restriction on the property. If the Town
prefers, the Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts can co-hold the conservation restriction
and conduct the monitoring and reporting.
Barnstable Land Trust will apply for a Conservation Partnership grant of $175,000 to help fund
acquisition of Lot 1. Lot 2, containing an existing single-family dwelling, will be acquired using
funds raised from private foundations and donors.
Sketch Plan showing proposed lot division. Division of the house lot is required for state grant funding.
1540 Main Street, West Barnstable, MA 02668 Phone: (508) 771-2585 info@blt.org
Wheeler Holly Preserve
Budget
Bargain sale
Expenses BLT purchase
150 Wheeler Road SFD $ 1,300,000
178 Wheeler Road $ 525,000
Project Costs $ 41,250
$ 1,866,250
Public Funding Sources
TOB CPA $ 905,000
CP Grant $ 175,000
$ 1,080,000
Total remaining to raise by
BLT $ 786,250
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Janet Milkman
Executive Director