Town of Stow Completes Second Phase of Stow Acres Land Acquisition

The Town of Stow is pleased to announce that it has completed the second phase of the acquisition of Stow Acres Country Club, purchasing 109 acres as part of a larger vision to create housing, open space, and recreation options in line with community priorities.

The $3.535 million purchase, which was completed on Friday, Jan, 13, is being funded through the Stow Community Preservation Act, and a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Grant from the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, assisted by private fundraising by the Stow Conservation Trust.

Rather than sell the course on the open market, Stow Acres’ owners approached the Town of Stow in late 2020 and proposed working in partnership on a development and preservation plan for the land.

A unique public-private partnership emerged, including the Stow Planning and Conservation Departments, Stow Conservation Trust, local development firm MCO & Associates, and Stow Acres Country Club, supported by Dodson & Flinker, a planning and design firm.

This working group developed a vision of large-scale conservation and ecological restoration of the Town’s most sensitive areas; maintaining and creating recreation opportunities, and diversifying housing with traditional New England architecture to help the town meet its affordable housing goals.

The resulting project received strong support from Stow Select Board and other town boards, Town Administration, the Town’s State House delegation, and from community members and stakeholders.

About 32 acres of the North Course parcel will be developed into smaller single-family, village-style homes, designed to limit the impact on the environment and maximize affordability. The remaining acreage will be set aside for public conservation and recreation. The Town is negotiating a short-term lease to continue operation of nine holes of the North Course.

The Town also has purchased a separate conservation restriction for the 18-hole South Course.

“Thank you to the town staff and members of town boards and committees who devoted countless hours to bringing this idea to fruition,” Town Administrator Denise Dembkoski said. “I especially would like to thank Peter Brown and Stow Holdings LLC for being true community partners. Sale of a large parcel for development will alter a community forever. Instead, Peter worked with the Town every step of the way to ensure that the best interests of both sides are met.”

Those interested in learning more about the proposal may visit the Stow Acres Planning Process page.

“The Stow Acres project is a textbook example of how communities and developers can work together collaboratively,” Conservation Director Kathy Sferra said. “The final result is that Stow will be able to plan for its growth, rather than reacting to growth.”