PEABODY, MA — In what Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt called an “important and historic vote” the City Council on Thursday approved the bonding for the municipal purchase of 137 acres of land, including the majority of the Meadow Golf Course, that formerly belonged to Rousselot.
With the bond approval, Bettencourt told the City Council the transfer of deed would take place on Friday in what he hopes will be the first of multiple land acquisitions from Rousselot in the city as the company winds down operations at its plant.
“I want to thank all of you for your commitment to the city,” Bettencourt told the City Council. “I think we’ve done some special things this year. This is a special meeting. I appreciate every member of the City Council for being here today for this important and historic vote that I know all of us believe in.”
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Bettencourt said in announcing the $9 million agreement two weeks ago that the land purchase agreement will preserve the golf course and give the city control of the land that could otherwise be sold for commercial or residential development.
City Council members pledged their support for the purchase at their Dec. 14 meeting.
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Bettencourt said on Dec. 14 that he would bring forth a proposal at a future date to change the zoning of the 137 acres to preserve them as open space/recreational in perpetuity.
He told the City Council Legal Services Committee on Dec. 14 that the purchase would be paid for out of golf course proceeds, as well as money from the Community Preservation Act and Community Development, and that he did not want the money to come out of the city’s operational budget.
The first payment of $3 million was to be paid on Friday, making Peabody the owner of the land, with the balance of $6 million due on Feb. 28.
“I do not yet know how we’re going to fund it in terms of the golf course proceeds, Community Preservation, some other things we’re looking at,” he said on Thursday. “I should have that (worked out) in a couple of months in terms of paying forward the debt service on this purchase.
“I will be bringing that forward for (City Council) votes. We have a little time on that.”
Rousselot Inc. announced in May that it was winding down operations at its Peabody plant and would complete that process by the end of 2023.
Bettencourt reiterated on Thursday his intent to pursue municipal purchases of remaining parcels of Rousselot-owned land in the city that totals about 263 acres.
“We’ve been in touch with Rousselot almost on a daily basis,” Bettencourt said. “We anticipate many more discussions about the other parcels.
“I really feel good about what we’re securing for future generations and hopefully there will be more to come.”
(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)
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