BETHEL — Nonprofits seeking to arrange the purchase of 1,000 acres off the North Road in Bethel for potential use as a “community forest” fielded questions recently on possible recreational uses, costs, lost taxes, gained revenue and other topics.

About 45 people attended an informational meeting at The Gem Theater, hosted by the Trust for Public Land, the Northern Forest Center and Mahoosuc Pathways.

Trust for Public Land Project Manager Betsy Cook and Northern Forest Center Program Director Julie Evans outlined the plan and answered questions about the parcel, known as the Stag property.

Evans described community forests in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, noting the varied approaches and uses individual towns have used.

In Errol, N.H., for example, the 7,000-acre forest is used to generate timber harvest income for the town, and for recreational use by motorized vehicles, she said.

In contrast, Randolph, N.H., devotes its forest largely to the support of wildlife habitat and bird watching, she said.

Evans and Cook were asked if they like the potential Bethel project.

“We do very much,” Evans said.

She said the organizations assess the feasibility of potential forests before becoming involved, looking at a community’s capacity to manage it and the financial health of the community.

Cook said potential funding for purchasing the land could come from federal, state and private money.

Evans said the most successful projects happen in towns that “have skin in the game.” She gave an example of towns that already own land and get revenue from timber harvests to use toward the purchase.

Cook was asked about the “health” of the timber on the Stag property.

“It needs time to grow back,” she said, because it has recently been harvested.

What about lost tax revenue from what would otherwise be private property?

“We do the tax calculations early on,” Evans said, as part of the project cost. She said many other community forests pay taxes voluntarily, realizing that the town would otherwise miss out on it.

Developer Ron Savage of Bethel said lost taxes are a concern, and that the “short-term gain” of the project could turn into “long-term pain” for that reason.

He asked if the primary reason for the land’s purchase is to gain access to Bethel’s nearby Bingham Forest, and was told that is a key reason. There are two potential access points, one directly from the North Road, and one from the Locke Mountain Road, which branches off the Daisy Bryant Road.

Savage wondered if a compromise solution might be to use some of the land for access, but make other parts available for potential development.

Evans and Cook said the uses of the forest would be determined by the community. Evans said, however, that land that is not developed does not tap into municipal services and schools as much as house lots would.

The Stag property was described as offering easier terrain for recreation than the nearby Bingham land, making it better for older users.

Another question addressed the use restrictions on the Bingham land, formerly owned by the Bethel Water District. William Bingham II originally stipulated if it were no longer being used as a water resource, that it be made a park.

Savage wondered if it was possible to have a “look-back period” in such cases, that could allow for changes in the event of unforeseen circumstances decades later.

Cook said there are sometimes provisions in the case of easements, and Trust for Public Land is cognizant of trying to avoid “tying hands” down the road with land purchases for community forests.

Another questioner wondered if the nonprofits had encountered “failures” in purchasing property, and Evans cited one case in which not enough time had been allowed to arrange for a purchase after the original individual landowner they had been dealing with passed away and complications ensued.

At the end of the meeting attendees were encouraged to sign up for the planning committee, which Evans said could be of whatever size is needed to be inclusive.

“The world is run by people who show up,” she said.

Cook said later that 13-14 people signed up for the planning committee after the meeting, but more would be welcome and people do not have to attend all meetings.

She estimated meetings might start in four to six weeks.

For more information on the effort contact Gabe Perkins of Mahoosuc Pathways at [email protected] or 207-200-8240.

Background on Bethel Community Forest project:

The Trust for Public Land is working to finalize a binding agreement for the purchase of a Stag LLC property off the North Road in Bethel.

The organization generally serves as facilitator in buying and protecting land for public use. Such land is ultimately paid for through grants and private fundraising, according to Betsy Cook, Trust for Public Land project manager.

The organization is working with partner The Northern Forest Center on the Bethel project.

The approximately 1,000-acre property next to Bethel’s Bingham Forest land, would also provide “clean and clear access” to the 2,300-acre Bingham land, Cook said.

Plans for recreational trails on the Bingham property stalled two years ago after a dispute arose about the legitimacy of public access to it over the Daisy Bryant Road.

Under the current proposal, the Stag land would be owned by the nonprofit Mahoosuc Pathways, on behalf of the community. The land would be known as the Bethel Community Forest and would be permanently protected from development.

It would be managed in a way to benefit the community. For example, if sustainably managed, excess revenue from timber harvesting could potentially go back to the town, Cook said.

Another benefit to the town could be generated by providing recreational opportunities that would support the local outdoor recreation-based economy.

Management of the land for recreational and other purposes could take place in coordination with the management of abutting properties, including the Bingham Forest property, which is managed by the Bingham Forest Advisory Committee.

Uses of that land discussed in the past have included hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing, among others.

Cook said if an agreement with Stag is finalized, The Trust for Public Land will seek public and private funding for the final purchase and would have a year and a half to reach the fundraising goal.

Any work to construct recreational trails on the land would have to wait for the actual purchase, Cook said. But in the meantime, the planning process could get underway.

That would be one of the roles of a planning committee, which Cook said should include a broad representation of the community. Projects are typically more successful with more community involvement and support, she said.

The committee would likely transition to the role of a management committee after a final purchase.

The planning committee will have community representation from the town, recreational groups, schools, environmental interests, businesses, other nonprofits and interested parties.