Conservation Restriction Finalized After Four-Year Process

A four-year effort to establish a conservation restriction at 487 King Street in Cohasset reached a milestone last Tuesday night as the Select Board approved the final documentation for the preservation measure.

The restriction, which was initially approved by town meeting voters in May 2021, required multiple layers of review and approval before reaching Tuesday's vote. The 39-page document had already received approval from the Conservation Commission and state authorities before coming to the Select Board for final local approval.

"They've been very patient," noted a town official at the meeting. "This is a four year process that should have taken a year or less."

The conservation restriction still faces one final step before becoming official. Following the Select Board's approval, the document will return to the state for signature by the Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. After receiving the state secretary's signature, the restriction will be recorded.

Select Board Chair Ellen Maher expressed appreciation for the preservation effort: "To think that they were giving this parcel to the conservation trust based on all of the reading, what it could be used for, the uses and everything. I think it's a great asset to the town."

The lengthy approval process, while frustrating for some, didn't deter the project's supporters. As one official noted, "They've been very patient and they said, we know it's coming."

The final approval marks a significant achievement in Cohasset's ongoing efforts to preserve open space and protect natural resources within the community. Once recorded, the conservation restriction will ensure the permanent protection of the King Street property for future generations.

Following the approval, town officials will transmit the signed documentation to state authorities for the final step in the four-year process.