By Judy Wakefield
If a real estate developer was buying three available lots on Fosters Pond Road, the town's top conservation official said, "there would be commas involved" in the big money deal.
Located off Rattlesnake Hill Road and not far from Route 28 (South Main Street), the Fosters Pond neighborhood is a sought after waterview section, which is tough to get in Andover.
The most recent home sold on Fosters Pond Road, in August, is listed at $775,000 on the town's assessed values Web site.
Now, the town has a chance to buy those three lots for $480,000 and Conservation Director Bob Douglas hopes voters will approve the real estate deal. The request will be on the Town Meeting warrant and is set to come before voters in late April.
"It's a very desirable area," Douglas said. "It would be a premier spot for recreation in town."
If voters approve spending the money, the three lots would become conservation land. Douglas said new hiking paths, picnic areas and access to boating on Fosters Pond would be built on the land.
"It's waterfront and very desired. Lots like this are being snapped up," Douglas said. "We would keep it preserved."
He said two of the lots have direct water views while the third does not. Conservation officials have been negotiating on this sale for the past two years, Douglas said.
Howard Kassler, a Conversation Commission member, said final details about the possible land purchase are still being worked on. Kassler said the deal should be finalized by Town Meeting. If for some reason the land deal is not finalized before Town Meeting starts on April 28, the purchase will not be presented for a vote.
"A key to wrapping this up is working with the Fosters Pond Neighborhood Association," Kassler said.
He declined to name the landowner.
Kassler agreed with Douglas that the area is "beautiful" and offers a convenient connection to existing conservation land in that part of town.
"It's just beautiful on the pond," Kassler said. "But we won't go to Town Meeting until everything is done...That's what voters deserve."
