Brooks Estate in the Public Eye

Peter C. Brooks Mansion at Point of Rocks, West Medford.

Photo taken between Spring and October, 1885. Courtesy Medford Brooks Estate Land Trust

As these various reports and studies continued, the Brooks Estate issue moved back onto the Medford public agenda. In the fall of 1995, two public hearings ("city council committee of the whole meetings") were held by the Medford City Council. At these open and admirably run forums, numerous citizens testified about the Brooks Estate. Over 600 people attended the September 29, 1995, meeting. In response to the remarkable level of public concern, the Council moved toward a critical vote on the future of the Brooks Estate.

After much heated debate among the Cemetery Trustees, the Brooks Estate Preservation Association, Medford citizens and the City Council, a resolution was passed on December 5, 1995 (Medford City Council Resolution, December 5, 1995 (revised December 19,1995).

The resolution states that 7 acres would be retained for burial purposes, rather than the original 15 acres requested by the Cemetery Board. Note that the Cemetery received an additional 1/2 acre more than the 6.5 acres proposed by the Child report.

After the passing of this resolution, the Council President set up a zoning committee, consisting of three city councilors. Their responsibilities were to work with the Cemetery Board of Trustees, Brooks Estate Preservation Association, the Historical Commission, Historical Society and concerned citizens regarding the preservation and conservation of the Brooks Estate.

Pursuant to the terms of the December 19, 1995, resolution, the zoning sub-committee was charged with developing the Brooks Estate Conservation and Preservation Restriction and key related issues (such as the zoning of the cemetery expansion area).

On January 31, 1996, I attended my first zoning sub- committee meeting at Medford City Hall. In attendance were the three city councilors of the zoning sub-committee, the City Solicitor, three members of the Cemetery Board, two newspaper reporters, members of the Brooks Estate Preservation Association, the head of the Historical Commission, and abutters to the Brooks property. The meeting was held to review information that had been discussed since the committee was appointed in January, 1996.

The key document in question was a proposal for conservation and preservation restrictions for the Brooks Estate. The actual document was a revised draft of a previous proposal. The committee chairperson read each item of the 24 page document.

When an attendee heard something that he or she did not agree with, the chairperson made notations on the original document. After the complete reading of the document, the chairperson would re-read the notations to make sure that the document was accurately written. The majority of the requests for changes were made by the Cemetery Board Chairman.

During the meeting various changes were incorporated into the proposal. The city solicitor said he would present the changes to the Mayor for his input. Before leaving the meeting, he stated that he wasn't sure that the Mayor would approve the document, but he would give the group a status update on the proposal.

A few days later the Zoning Sub-Committee was told that the Mayor did not support the proposal. His disapproval on this document was mainly because he wanted his name as the initiator of the document and not that of the zoning sub committee.

Without support of the Mayor, the committee forwarded the newly amended proposal to the proposed grantees: Massachusetts Historical Commission; and The Trustees of Reservation, a private land preservation group. Both parties were invited to the next zoning sub- committee meeting. After reading the amended proposal both parties agreed to come to the Brooks Estate zoning sub- committee meeting on March 20, 1996.

I also attended the second zoning sub-committee meeting on March 20, 1996. The purpose of the meeting was to further discuss the Brooks Estate Conservation and Preservation Restriction.

In addition to the normal attendees, two guests were present: Elsa Fitzgerald, Assistant Director of Massachusetts Historical Commission and Wesley Ward, Deputy Director for Land Conservation of the Trustees of Reservations. The city solicitor was not in attendance at this meeting, although his attendance would have been beneficial. The chairperson noted that upon notification from the City Solicitor, the Mayor had suggested that the City Solicitor not attend the March 20th meeting.

The Massachusetts Historical Commission was proposed as the holder of the preservation restriction on the historical buildings. The Trustees of Reservations would hold the conservation restriction.

Through a conservation restriction, ownership of the land would remain in private hands, but development rights would be relinquished, thus ensuring the land's scenic and open condition in perpetuity (Chamberlin, K & Hopkins, 1.,1992). With this restriction, the City of Medford would remain the owner of the property.

The two guests eagerly discussed the proposal that was sent to them. Both indicated that the proposal document was well written and that they would be interested in holding the conservation preservation/restriction on the Brooks Estate. Mr. Ward noted that although he lives in nearby Cambridge he had no idea that the Brooks Estate existed. He stated it was a well- kept secret.

Many concerns were raised that evening. One revolved around how much it would cost the taxpayers in Medford to have the Trustees of Reservations hold the restriction.

Mr. Ward answered that a modest contribution would be sufficient, with a minimum of $6,000 not to exceed $10,000.

Without hesitation, Tom Lincoln, President of the Brooks Estate Preservation Association spoke up and said that the Association and the Historical Society would pay for the fee out of private funds. After additional discussions, the meeting ended. Mr. Ward and Ms. Fitzgerald indicated that they would bring the minutes of the meeting back to their office for discussion and provide a follow-up on their proposed roles on the protection of the Brooks Estate.

At present, the permanent protection of the Brooks Estate is on hold pending the finalization of the conservation and preservation restriction document by all parties.

It is expected that the document will be back in Medford and in front of the zoning sub-committee for final consideration in the near future, Then it must be: 1) passed by the zoning sub- committee; 2) passed by the full Medford City Council; 3) signed by the Mayor and the Grantees; 4) approved by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Hopefully the document will have smooth sailing.

The battle for the future of the Brooks Estate has consumed the time and energies of many, many people and demonstrated the commitment and steadfastness of purpose of all the parties.

As a novice participating in public issues, I never realized the amount of time that a particular project can take. As all participants have converged on the mutual ground of compromise, my political awareness has been enhanced immeasurably.

From the bachelors thesis: Case Study of the Brooks Estate, by Linda M. Penta. American Studies Program, Leslie College