McFarland Family Calls on Westwood to End Lawsuit Over Clapboardtree Meadow
Duncan and Ellen McFarland, the couple who originally purchased and donated Clapboardtree Meadow to the Town of Westwood in 2001, have sent a letter to the Select Board urging the Town to drop its lawsuit against the Westwood Land Trust.
The dispute involves protected land at 665 Clapboardtree Street, where the Town is seeking to force the Land Trust to allow commercial farming. The McFarlands say that move directly contradicts the intent of their original gift.
When they purchased the meadow and surrounding forest in 1999, the McFarlands placed a Conservation Restriction on the property to ensure it would remain a natural habitat in perpetuity. They later donated the land to the Town at no cost, with the Westwood Land Trust serving as steward.
In their letter, the McFarlands refute claims made by the Bean Family Farm that commercial agriculture was ever contemplated, writing that such use would destroy the natural meadow habitat and degrade the views the restriction was meant to protect.
They also note that they recently offered to buy back the land at fair market value to preserve it and avoid spending taxpayer money on litigation.
The McFarlands close their letter with a direct appeal to Town leaders:
“We implore the Town’s leadership to do the right thing and stop using taxpayer dollars to undermine the Conservation Restriction on Clapboardtree Meadow, against our wishes and intent, and respect the wisdom and judgment of the WLT in how best to protect the land.”
The full letter from Duncan and Ellen McFarland is published below.