Concord City Councilors voted Dec. 8 to authorize a $370,000 appropriation to acquire a 153.09-acre parcel from 2 Granite Place LLC, a property owner identified in council materials as Stephen Dupree. The purchase price for the parcel was reported as $335,500; the transaction package includes a plan to place approximately 134.89 acres under a conservation easement and to reserve about 18.2 acres for future taxable development. The council recorded the motion as passing by the required two-thirds majority.

City staff told the council the property had been subdivided and that the deadline for closing was Dec. 31, 2025. Staff said the seller reported an appraisal of the parcel's development-rights value at roughly $2.77 million and that, given the imminent closing date, completing a new Phase I environmental site assessment before closing was unlikely. Staff said funds were carried to complete due diligence if time permitted.

Members of the public urged differing courses. Long-time abutter and journalist Tony Chenella told the council he supported conserving most of the land but urged the city to renegotiate terms to preserve a larger, buildable "basin" portion for housing and tax-base expansion. "With the right investment in development in this area ' potentially in coordination with the 18 acres on the southeast ' you might be able to make a really dynamic project," Chenella said, urging the council to "go back, tweak it, and do this." He presented several conceptual scenarios for multifamily development and argued those projects could generate substantial assessed value.

Other public speakers and several councilors urged caution. Roy Schweikher and other opponents said the seller's Dec. 31 deadline was the seller's constraint and cautioned that the city would inherit long-term management and liability responsibilities for large conservation acreage. Schweikher asked whether the city should instead insist Dupree negotiate a different package or donate the land to a land trust to avoid management obligations.

Council debate centered on balancing the potential to keep developable acreage on the tax rolls against fiscal prudence and long-term management costs. Supporters said acquiring at least the 18.2 acres reserved for development preserved options for housing and municipal uses, while opponents said the city should not use reserve funds for uncertain, expensive land management obligations.

The resolution as presented specifies the conservation easement, the seller's responsibilities for property taxes through March 31, 2026, and a best-efforts commitment by the city to secure a buyer for the 18.2-acre development area within five years of acquisition. The council vote approved the appropriation and acceptance of the property, with the city manager to finalize closing and deed language.

Next steps identified by staff include completing post-closing due diligence as allowable, negotiating final deed and easement language, and pursuing a buyer or development path for the 18.2-acre parcel per the council's direction.