Attorney General upholds Balsams agreement

Earlier this week, the Attorney General’s Charitable Trusts Unit upheld the terms of a conservation-use agreement between Dixville Capital LLC and the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.

Under the terms of the amendment, Dixville Capital LLC will conserve land elsewhere, including an additional 150 acres of old growth forest, in return for being able to develop nearly 20 acres of conserved land for skiing.

Opponents of the amendment, however, argue that the restrictions were put in place to prevent the development of any portion of the 5,690 acres in and around the Balsams.

In a “no action” letter on Jan. 12, Thomas Donovan, director of the Charitable Trusts Unit, contended that the amendment complies with the seven conservation principles spelled out in the conservation guidelines for the land's use.