It seems like every time we look, there’s a new ‘Available’ sign next to a wooded lot or a beautiful field, and within months, what used to be part of Webster’s natural beauty has been turned into yet another shopping plaza, cluster development or housing complex. 

There is another way: ongoing collaboration between the Town Supervisor, the Friends of Webster Trails and residents over the past several years has resulted in the possibility of buying parcels of land from willing landowners to remain forever wild. The best way of doing this is an Open Space Referendum, which allows all of us to vote on the Town bonding for the funds to make the purchase. 

Out of a total of Webster’s approximately 22,000 acres, only about 25% of undeveloped land is left; only 10% is currently protected, and this is going to decrease by about 500 acres when the Open Space program (which the Town has so far not reinstated) expires. Permanently protecting 500 acres with a referendum would only cost the average household about $25 more each year. 

Signing this petition just means you are in favor of giving the people of Webster a chance to vote on whether they want the Town to take out a bond in order to purchase a specific set of properties from willing landowners who would like to keep their properties forever wild. It also demonstrates that Webster citizens are in favor of investment in Open Space as a valuable resource, now and in the future. 

In the meantime, the Town has committed to updating its Comprehensive Plan-- this can serve as a basis for a future referendum, and so Greenspace Protection can and should be at the heart of Webster's planning for the future. 

Find out more about how you can help the ongoing effort at Webster Open Space Committee and find us on Facebook