Why is the WLT Issue so Divisive?

Why is the Land Trust issue so divisive? The answer is not farming or money. Rather, it’s because the issue goes to the heart of what people think their government and elected officials should or shouldn’t be. Support for farming or the lack thereof is not the issue. We all like to eat and most of us can still remember where food comes from. And income from the property in question will generate less than $600/year from lease revenue and $0 tax dollars. So, what brought about this sudden rift across our community?

Since its inception 25 years ago, the Westwood Land Trust (WLT) and the Select Board had a friendly, collaborative partnership. It was a model that has worked in countless communities across the country, since 1891, when the first Land Trust was established in the USA. The two entities worked together to limit excessive development, preserve land for public use, and assure our children and grandchildren would have places of natural beauty, in perpetuity, within town borders. And in 25 years, over 200 acres were saved forever. But then something changed that could threaten both existing public land and any future preservation.

The Select Board, with virtually no public input, or precedent, sought to impose its will over that of the WLT. Select Board members now wanted to be the decision makers. THIS was a game changer.

The very purpose and primary objective of land trusts is the preservation of land for public use. Town officials wanted to be the decision makers going forward, so they sued to get that power. Despite a townwide vote telling the Select Board to drop the lawsuit, it continues. If the Select Board prevails in their lawsuit, it could undermine the power land trusts, across the nation, have to protect open space. Do we really want our town to set this precedent (Town of Westwood v. Westwood Land Trust) and be forever on the national legal map in this fashion? Do we want to be known as the town that eroded protections of public land for future generations?

I understand that in today’s America there are many who have no issue with using public lands to generate private wealth. ‘Drill baby drill’ has become a battle cry for many. But for me, ‘till baby till’ is a bridge too far. The Select Board should drop the lawsuit before they further damage our community and our good reputation.

-Kevin Becker