Weston voters have been mailed a copy of the Warrant for Special Town Meeting that presents the town's proposal to buy the Case Estates property, an article that will be discussed on Nov. 8 should a majority of voters vote to exclude the debt from the limits of Proposition 2 1/2 in the general election on Nov. 7. The warrant Article 1, and the Case Exhibit, should be read together. Please note the extensive explanation of Article 1 intended to provide the voter with a solid foundation upon which to vote Nov. 7 and 8.
Download the Warrant Article
Download the corresponding Case Exhibit
Property Tax Impacts of the Case Purchase
The Finance Committee has issued a report to help residents understand the real estate tax implications of the proposed Case Estates purchase and its impact on the financial health of the town over the next 20 years. Read Jim Beam's column in the Town Crier for an overview of the financial analysis.
Press Release from the Town of Weston on Harvard's Proposed Price of
The Case Estates
Oct. 5, 2006, Weston, MA. The Weston Board of Selectmen met this morning to discuss Harvard’s offer to sell its entire 62.5 acre Case Estates property to the Town for $22.5 million. This price matches an offer Harvard has received from a qualified buyer, as described in the letter from Jim Gray of Harvard Real Estate. The Board is preparing its response, which is to be delivered to Harvard before the end of the day Friday as requested by Jim Gray.
In June 2005 the Board of Selectmen appointed the Case Estates Review Committee, headed by Kay McCahan, to undertake an extensive evaluation of this property, whose significance to the Town has been long-recognized. The CERC recommended in May of this year that Weston acquire the property from Harvard to take control of it and to commit Community Preservation Act funds to preserve the critical viewscapes of this land as open space.
There are a number of steps required by state and local statutes if the Town wishes to acquire the Case Estates. And, of course, Weston’s voters will have the ultimate say in the decision. First, on a November 7 ballot question voters will be asked if the debt service on the purchase of this property will be excluded from the limits of Proposition 2 ½. Then, a Special Town Meeting has been tentatively scheduled for November 8 where voters will be asked if they approve of the use of Community Preservation Act funds and general municipal bonds for the purchase of the property.
For a press kit or copies of any of the Coalition's materials, including newsclippings, the Self-Guided Brochure of the Case Estates, or the Weston Historical Bulletin's Special Case Estates issue, please contact info@caseestates.org.
