Select Board Continues Arboretum Land Hearing

Select Board · Meeting of February 11, 2026

Acton's Select Board continued a hearing on a $1.4 million purchase of land to expand the Arboretum. Chair Dean A. Charter said the price is fixed under the town's right of first refusal on the 5.8-acre parcel at 46 Taylor Road, and any purchase would need a two-thirds Town Meeting vote.

Phoebe Conant, president of the Friends of the Acton Arboretum, said the group would "dedicate all of our efforts" to raising money if the deal advances. Finance Committee Chair Scott Sullivan asked for a comparison of alternative uses for the land, while resident Bruce McConaughey questioned the funding mechanism; officials pointed to Community Preservation Act open-space funds and possible bonding, as used for Piper Road, Moritz and Wright Hill purchases. The board took no vote on the purchase, continuing the matter to March 2.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of February 11, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.