Emergency Appeal: Help Save Farmland

by David Cadran | Nature | 1423 Views

Hello Everyone,

There is a beautiful piece of land, right off exit four (I-89) that is currently active farm land and has a stunning vista of the surrounding valley. This particularly special piece of land is under threat of development from someone that wants to build a hotel and a gas station. Please, pleeeeeeeease- help me preserve this land by clicking the link below and donating.

They only have one week left to raise $120,000 towards their $1million goal! Donate today and I’ll give you a hug and thank you my self!

Be sure to click the “Donate Now to Exit 4 Project” button and not the general donation button. Thanks.

http://ptvermont.org/exit-4/

Comments | 2

  • Submitted by cgrotke on June 9, 2017 at 7:37 am

    New total?

    This must be getting close. Anyone have a new update on totals raised?

  • Submitted by cgrotke on June 12, 2017 at 9:11 am

    Goal reached!

    Preservation Trust says:

    “Together we have raised $1 million and Exit 4 will be saved!

    Thanks to a great many, we have reached the $1 million goal to purchase 22 acres at Exit 4 in Randolph! So when this parcel is added to the 150 acres that the Castanea Foundation has purchased, a total or 172 acres of land will be protected from development and put into agricultural use. What a miraculous effort!

    What a remarkable turnaround! It was not long ago when the developer and owner of the property was proposing to building 1,200,000 square feet of mixed use development. Now the property will be protected forever! The outstanding scenic views will be protected, prime agricultural soils will be used for agricultural purposes, and this key step will help build a stronger downtown Randolph.

    This didn’t happen by accident. From the beginning it has been a team effort! When the application for the massive development was submitted, the Conservation Law Foundation and the Vermont Natural Resources Council led the opposition in the permitting process. Exit 4 Open Space rallied local support and was a strong voice at the hearings. We, at the Preservation Trust, provided financial support for the expert witnesses.

    Then there were several months when CLF, VNRC, and the Preservation Trust participated in a mediation process with the developer. And then more negotiations.

    A major breakthrough happened when the Castanea Foundation reached a deal to buy 150 of the 172 acres along Route 66 in Randolph.

    And then after more negotiating, the owner Sam Sammis agreed to give the Preservation Trust, CLF, and VNRC two months to purchase the remaining 22 acres.

    The Open Space citizens group did the grassroots fundraising, and we then looked for major gifts to reach the $1 million goal.

    It was a daunting task. But you did it! We did it! We have Saved Exit 4! We are so grateful to our grassroots contributors and our major donors! Each of the 476 donations was important and critical to our success!

    Thank you all!

    Paul Bruhn
    Executive Director

    Preservation Trust of Vermont
    104 Church Street
    Burlington, VT 05401
    802-658-6647
    http://www.ptvermont.org“

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