PLYMPTON — August 26, 2026 — Following an executive session, the Plympton Board of Selectmen announced major legal settlements securing long-sought conservation land at Turkey Swamp and establishing strict protections and financial recoupment regarding the Ricketts Pond Chapter 40B development, alongside voting to retain a foreclosed Main Street parcel for municipal conservation.
The Full Story
The Plympton Board of Selectmen reconvened in open session last Wednesday afternoon to announce significant progress on two major land-use matters negotiated behind closed doors. Chair Nathaniel Sides announced that the town reached an agreement with the trustees of Merrimont Realty Trust to finalize a conservation land acquisition at Turkey Swamp that initially began more than three years ago. Under the agreement, the town granted the trustees an additional year to finalize conservation land pursuits in Halifax, while securing reimbursement for legal expenses incurred over the multi-year process.
Additionally, the board reached a formal settlement agreement with SLT Corporation, SLT Construction, and principal Peter Opachinski regarding the proposed Chapter 40B development at Ricketts Pond. The agreement allows the developer to proceed under the terms of the comprehensive permit issued by the Zoning Board of Appeals and lifts an existing cease-and-desist order, while setting a three-year milestone for substantial project progress. Crucially, the settlement requires the developer to restore the property to its previous baseline condition should the project fail to move forward, and secures $18,000 in recouped fees paid to Plympton for past earth removal on site.
“This is just in the unlikely event that that never happens. We have an agreement in place that they will return the property to a previous condition.” — Chair Nathaniel Sides
