Gardner Landscape
68 Acres of Open Fields, Woodlands, Pond and Streams in Hamilton
“Mr. and Mrs. Gardner wanted to permanently protect this special place and they were ready to do something extraordinary to make this happen: donate the full value of a Conservation Restriction (CR) to Greenbelt.”
In early 2013, Jack Gardner contacted Greenbelt with a mounting sense of purpose. He had a long-time affiliation with the land trust, having served as an early member of Greenbelt’s board of directors and as a loyal supporter of its conservation mission. He and his wife Susan, now in their nineties, had been thinking for some time about the future of the Hamilton property they have shared for over fifty years.
Mr. Gardner was clear from the first phone call that he wanted to conserve as much of the 80-plus-acre landscape as possible. A stunning setting along a designated scenic road, the property includes a prominent glacial esker and a vibrant stream corridor that feeds into the Miles River, a significant Ipswich River tributary. Woodlands, streams and a pond surround the glorious open fields and paddocks.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardner wanted to permanently protect this special place and they were ready to do something extraordinary to make this happen: donate the full value of a Conservation Restriction (CR) to Greenbelt.
The Conservation Vision
Aligning Immediate and Longer-term Needs
Notwithstanding his generosity, Mr. Gardner was a thoughtful donor, and had no deadlines pressuring his decision. He wanted Greenbelt’s help to explore his options thoroughly, taking all the time needed to balance his strong desire to protect as much of the property as possible with the couple’s immediate and longer-term financial needs.
In turning to Greenbelt, Mr. Gardner was able to share the couple’s conservation vision, while exploring options that would reserve a portion of the property for the Gardners’ personal use and another portion that could eventually be separated and sold, perhaps by a future owner.
Greenbelt helped Mr. Gardner by working with experts from a local land-planning and appraisal firm to create a conservation plan for the property. While the property could easily support 16 housing units, the Gardners determined they would need only two additional units to meet future needs. Once this decision was made, the partners worked to site the future house lots as independently marketable units that would not impact the value of the larger, full estate, while also protecting the property’s significant conservation values. This plan confirmed the Gardners’ goals and intentions. Greenbelt then implemented the plan by drafting the language of the CR, and by securing approval of its terms from the Town of Hamilton and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Public Access to Existing Trail
As a generous addition, the CR provides public access to an existing trail maintained by the Essex County Trails Association, which links East Hamilton to Appleton Farms and Bradley Palmer State Park. The trail easement was an important consideration in the town’s review process, and it also helped further Greenbelt’s mission.
While many of Greenbelt’s projects involve multiple partners, town votes and community fundraising campaigns, Greenbelt continues to seek out and encourage gifts of conservation land and restrictions from landowners who have a desire to permanently protect their property from development. Regardless of the project size and complexity, Greenbelt’s staff is committed to making the investments of time and careful attention to detail that will allow the landowner to realize their conservation vision.
Greenbelt greatly appreciates the Gardners’ support over the years, including their commitment to conserving the land around their home in Hamilton.
Let our Land Conservation Staff Assist You
- Vanessa Johnson-Hall
Director, Land Conservation Division
978-768-7241 ext. 116 - Elizabeth Harkness
Land Conservation Specialist
978-768-7241 ext. 127