Hanscom towns named 'Last Chance Landscapes.

Concord Journal

By Barbara Forster / Correspondent
Wednesday, February 26, 2003

The four Hanscom communities have received a unique designation as one of the country's 10 "Last Chance Landscapes" for 2002-03.

The towns of Bedford, Concord, Lexington, and Lincoln acquired the new title from Scenic America, a national nonprofit organization dedicated solely to protecting places of natural beauty and distinctive community character.

"We select places that still have the possibility of reversing or stemming damage that is coming if (development/expansion) plans go through," said Scenic America Director Meg Maguire.

Citing expansion of Hanscom Field as the threat, Maguire stated that if the airport continued to grow, "it will bring intolerable jet noise, sprawl and increased road traffic to the historic towns and birthplace of the American Revolution and the American conservation movement.

The announcement was made at Minute Man National Historical Park Visitor Center in Lincoln on Monday. A host of dignitaries including area legislators and town selectmen were on hand for the news conference. Congressman Marty Meehan, Ronald Lee Fleming, director of The Townscape Institute in Cambridge and board member of Scenic America; William Fowler, director of the Massachusetts Historical Society; and naturalist Edward O. Wilson were among the speakers.

"Anticipated growth by Massport will truly endanger the park and the area's historical sites. This sends a clear message and the four towns are most pleased," said Bedford Selectman Sheldon Moll, who also chairs the Hanscom Area Towns Committee. "It's painfully clear," added Moll, "that there is a wide margin of differences between the towns, Massport, and our own state Office of Environmental Affairs."

"National designation gives us a focal point we can rally around," said Neil Rasmussen of Save Our Heritage. "But this is part of what we, Save Our Heritage, is about - trying to achieve state and federal designation for the importance of this area to counteract the economic argument."

Save Our Heritage worked with other area groups including Safeguarding the Historic Hanscom Area's Irreplaceable Resources but spearheaded the application for the designation.

Minute Man National Historical Park, a cornerstone of the area, benefits too.

"National recognition from a well-regarded organization with a strong reputation of conservation/preservation confirms what we've been saying all along," said Superintendent Nancy Nelson. "It also helps in raising our national profile with other national organizations and various levels of government."

Being threatened is only one factor in the selection process. Having potential solutions propels applicants into the final decision rounds. Solutions for Hanscom vary. Two possible measures include securing federal legislation comparable to regulations that prevent tourist fly-overs for national parks and passing state laws that put limits on Massport's ability to expand Hanscom by limiting infrastructure.

Anna Winter, executive director of Save Our Heritage had additional
suggestions: including "an enforceable agreement with Massport, the towns, and the Federal Aviation Administration to limit growth or transfer Hanscom from Massport to an independent body that would operate Hanscom in balance with the communities and the environment." She also suggested creating a new "airport operator," which would require state legislation similar to the act that established Massport.

How, when, and if this solution is selected are issues that would require much negotiation. Whether Massport would be interested in the idea is another unknown, admits Winter.

"You never know until you begin the dialogue," she said. "But we have to stop taking adversarial positions. Massport has a job to do and we understand their position but our mission is to protect and preserve this historic area."

Although Winter stated that "aviation is a good thing" she cautioned that the airport must be run responsibly and in balance with the environment. Winter also argued that if "you think outside the box" the two missions are not diametrically opposed All the proposed solutions are in that category, she said.

"We hope to reach out and find a possible solution and end up with a win-win solution. This is a complex environment," added Nelson, "and we are actively seeking collaborative solutions."

Founded in 1978, Scenic America annually chooses 10 sites that face imminent and potentially irrevocable harm from ongoing commercial development that includes various forms such as billboards, cell towers, urban sprawl, and forest clear-cutting.

This year, Scenic America sorted through 52 applications to determine winners. The final list includes the Creole Natural Trail National Scenic Byway in Louisiana, Glen Mary Plantation Historic Site in Georgia, Schuylkill Marsh in Philadelphia, Lower Marks Creek Rural Landscape in North Carolina, Jordan River Conservation Corridor in Utah, Middle Potomac Scenic Corridor in Maryland and Washington, D.C., California, Gaviota Coast, Blue Ridge Parkway Viewshed in Roanoke County, Virginia, and State Highway 99 Corridor in California's San Joaquin Valley.

Copyright by TownOnline.com and Herald Interactive Advertising Systems ==========
**NOTICE: In accordance with 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.** ==========