History
Mayo Farm is a 235-acre parcel of land in the heart of Stowe, consisting of recreational and agricultural land. It is currently used by visitors and residents alike for sporting events, festivals, access to the Stowe Rec Path and the Quiet Path, and other year-round activities.
In 1989, the Stowe community voted to protect Mayo Farm from development under the guidance of Stowe Land Trust, authorizing the purchase of Mayo Farm by the Town of Stowe for the primary purposes of agricultural and public recreational use. In 2003, the voters approved a 25-year conservation easement for the parcel. Stowe Land Trust holds the conservation rights and development restrictions conveyed by the easement and has a legal obligation to enforce those rights through 2028 when the easement expires. Of note, it is very unusual to have a conservation easement with an expiration; almost all conservation easements are perpetual.
The Mayo Farm Management Plan adopted by the Town of Stowe in 2013 provides additional background and rationale for the conservation easement.
Context
With the current conservation easement expiring in 2028, the parcel is once again being considered for development. The acute shortage of housing for long-term residents in Stowe, and across Vermont, is a significant area of focus for the Stowe Selectboard, the Housing Task Force, and the community. Some have suggested Mayo Farm as a potential solution.
The Future of Mayo Farm
The Conservation Easement automatically renews on each 25-year anniversary date (August 12, 2028) unless the residents of Stowe vote otherwise at the annual Town Meeting prior (March 2028). Based on legal opinion provided to Stowe Land Trust by Elizabeth McDermott, Esq. on February 18, 2025, there are essentially 4 options for consideration. Voters can:
- Do nothing and allow the Conservation Easement to renew for another 25-year period as is.
- Unilaterally terminate the Conservation Easement and not replace it. The town would still be held to the terms of the original deed restriction from 1989 stating the land is to be used “primarily” for agriculture, open space and recreation, but would be left to defend those legal rights on its own without Stowe Land Trust as a partner.
- Unilaterally terminate the Conservation Easement and immediately adopt a replacement conservation easement on a more limited portion of the property. This would need to be a perpetual easement, as term easements are no longer allowed per IRS law.
- Amend the Conservation Easement, with any amendments subject to Stowe Land Trust’s approval. Stowe Land Trust has an obligation to uphold the conservation values that are central to its mission and, therefore, would consider proposed amendments that meet the needs and desires of the community, integrate a significant community benefit (i.e. a recreation center or workforce/affordable housing), and maintain the stated conservation values of Mayo Farm. Practically speaking, Stowe Land Trust cannot support any amendments that confer significant private benefit to an individual (for example, a luxury housing developer).
Our Position
Stowe Land Trust is committed to a shared vision for a sustainable future, which includes working collaboratively to find solutions to the community’s housing challenges. We advocate for compact settlement patterns that support public access, clean water, healthy wildlife, recreational opportunities, and ecological integrity.
Stowe Land Trust was entrusted with this easement by the people of the town of Stowe, through a majority vote, as a means of protecting these important values over the long-term. Stowe Land Trust will continue to be a voice for conservation, public recreation, and preserving the agricultural land and open space at Mayo Farm.
To that end, it is our hope that Mayo Farm remains in conservation and that Stowe Land Trust and the Town of Stowe continue to partner in upholding a Conservation Easement there. We also recognize the need to explore various options. We would be open to reviewing proposed amendments to the Conservation Easement that maintain the overall conservation values and open space aesthetic of Mayo Farm while also meeting the current needs of the community, such as a limited and modest housing proposal or a community recreation center. We believe that any discussion of housing at Mayo Farm should be part of a robust and comprehensive understanding of the options available and that the complete suite of policy tools are also actively explored. This might include updates to zoning, permitting, impact fees, tax incentives, deed restrictions, and/or the formation of a community housing trust. Any amendment to the Conservation Easement would be subject to legal review under the standards of the Land Trust Alliance, the national accrediting body for land trusts, to ensure that Stowe Land Trust remains in full compliance with federal law and nonprofit requirements.