Woodstock Early Bird recently reported on the intention of new “A & B Motors” land owners to turn their property into a housing community. But apparently…things have changed…as Woodstock Early Bird’s Gareth Henderson reports from last night’s Woodstock Selectboard meeting. (WEB’s scrawny bird neck has a touch of whiplash!):
Several years after Woodstock voters soundly rejected the town’s proposed purchase of the old A&B Motors property at 25 South Street, the Woodstock Selectboard has chosen to revisit the matter at Town Meeting on Saturday, March 3, 2012. (It’s coming up SOON!)
Woodstock Selectboard member Bruce Gould brought it up at the Board’s regular meeting Tuesday night. Gould explained that he still thinks the purchase would be worth it, especially if the abutting Woodstock Elementary School ever needs room to expand. He noted that there is still plenty of talk in Montpelier about consolidation of small schools, noting that WES might take in students from other towns if that happened.
The previous deal struck down by the voters would have been buying the whole A&B Motors property for over $400,000.
Now, owners Bill and Jennifer Lamb – in recent conversations with Town officials – have offered to sell half of the property to the town, according to Gould. This would be the half extending from the WES property line to the middle of what is now the parking lot – at a cost in the $200,000 range, Gould estimated.
What would happen to the existing building is unclear, although Gould said the Lambs do have plans to add four residential structures to the property. If half of the parcel is sold to the town, Gould explained, the Lambs would add just two new residences to the property.
Gould said the matter would only be brought up for discussion at Town Meeting, under “other business.” “I just think it’s short-sighted if we don’t look at it in a serious way and let the public make a decision,” Gould explained.
Woodstock Municipal Manager Phil Swanson pointed out that the Town will receive some financial credits from FEMA, since the town decided not to replace the Holt Iron Bridge. The town will be credited 67 percent of what the Holt Iron Bridge replacement would have cost. Since the project estimate was $880,000 – 67 percent would be $589,600. The town can use this money for alternate projects, and the purchase of the old A&B Motors property would count as an alternate project, Swanson said.
(Woodstock Early Bird has previously reported that those Holt Bridge funds might be used for new fire safety gear as well)
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 