A long-anticipated regional land conservation deal involving the City of Framingham, the Towns of Ashland and Sherborn, and private landowners is now stalled due to a fundamental problem: the seller doesn’t actually own all the land that’s been promised.
The proposed $475,000 acquisition, which was marketed as nearly 40 acres of floodplain and wooded land critical for public access, climate resiliency, and trail expansion, now appears to be based on a faulty assumption. As it turns out, the Zani family—listed as owners on outdated assessor records—actually owns just over 27 acres, not 39.
“Not Their Land to Sell”
A detailed survey, title search, and comparison against Plan #994 from 1971 revealed that some of the Ashland parcels included in the original acreage count are not legally owned by Zani at all. While Framingham’s 103 Guild Road parcel remains valid at 11.22 acres, much of the assumed land in Ashland and Sherborn appears to belong to other parties or be legally unresolved. This revelation drastically reduces the area that can be legally transferred and preserved under the current agreement.
“The bottom line is that we could only show that Zani owns 27.02 acres and not 40 acres,” wrote Planning Director Sarkis Sarkisian in a memo to the Framingham Community Preservation Committee (CPC) dated May 14, 2025.
The Fallout: New Appraisals, Delayed Closing
This discrepancy has major consequences:
- The original appraisal justifying the $250,000 in CPA funds was based on 39 acres.
- Now, a new appraisal must be commissioned for the reduced 27.02-acre footprint—divided among three municipalities—reflecting actual land titles and recent zoning changes (including new ADU rules).
- Without an accurate appraisal and title documentation, the City of Framingham cannot close on the deal, and grant funding from the state’s MVP program remains in limbo.
- A grant extension has been issued, but the clock is ticking.
Ashland, where most of the questionable parcels lie, is conducting additional title research to confirm ownership and potentially adjust the acquisition map. Until then, no conservation restrictions can be created and no money can change hands.
Broader Implications
The land in question lies at a strategic junction of three towns, near Beaverdam Brook and key Environmental Justice communities. Conservationists had hoped the parcel could serve as both climate buffer and trail access point—including a link to the Bay Circuit Trail. The surprise ownership gap jeopardizes not only the funding but also regional planning efforts that have been years in the making.
If the issue cannot be resolved, the municipalities may have to renegotiate the price, scale down the project, or find alternative conservation partners. It’s a high-stakes game of land title whack-a-mole—one with implications for wetlands, trail access, and public trust in the process.
What’s Next?
The project remains a priority for all three municipalities, but closing is on hold pending:
- Final title research in Ashland
- Appraisal updates based on actual ownership
- Endorsement of a revised ANR (Approval Not Required) plan
- Creation of three conservation restrictions across Framingham, Ashland, and Sherborn
Until then, a project once celebrated for cross-municipal cooperation is stuck in bureaucratic quicksand—on land that might not be theirs to preserve.