NEWBURYPORT - City officials and the company proposing a development behind the Wheelwright House said they will talk about a possible land-swap - a move that would preserve the forest between the historic home and the Oak Hill Cemetery.

Planning Board Chairman Doug Locy said if both city officials and Developer Todd Fremont-Smith agree, the city can swap land it owns with Fremont-Smith's four acres, located behind the historic High Street home. That option would allow the city to keep the land for preservation.

It would also allow Fremont-Smith to build homes on another property.

"I think it is certainly something worth exploring," Locy said. "It's kind of a wild idea, but certainly worth pursuing."

The idea was first brought up at a Planning Board meeting Wednesday night, though the deal would have to be approved by the City Council and Mayor John Moak.

Fremont-Smith, owner of Wills Lane Investments LLC, is looking for approval from to the Planning Board to build four single-family homes on about 4 acres of land behind the Wheelwright House and off of Brown Street.

He said he plans to live in one of the homes with his family.

The proposed development has caught the attention of many residents, including about a dozen at the board meeting Wednesday who say the new construction would ruin the architectural integrity of nearby High Street and the tranquility of the Oak Hill Cemetery. The homes would be built on property called "The Ridge" - a section of prominent historic mansions that line High Street between State Street and March's Hill.

City Councilor James Shanley said he doesn't anticipate the land-swap proposal in front of the City Council anytime soon, but instead said he would want to wait to see how many residents want the swap to go through.

He added that the first step in the process is to contact Mayor Moak and Fremont-Smith to determine the likelihood of an agreement.

"It's not a bad idea," said Shanley, who attended the Planning Board meeting. "But it is not an easy thing. It's not like trading baseball cards."

Shanley said the only land he can think the city could swap is a plot at the end of Coffins Court, called March's Hill.

The councilor said any deal that could take place would probably take more than a year to complete, "just from my knowledge of how slowly government works." Shanley said he doesn't think the city has done a deal like this before.

"I think it is something worth talking about," he added.

Moak said he would consider the idea, but cautioned he would want to take a serious look at any property the city owned that was good enough to swap with Fremont-Smith. He said such property could be used as much-needed land for the city if it wanted to build a new school, a senior center or new ball fields for children.

He also said he could not think of any such land the city now owns that could be used.

"I can't imagine anything we own anything that four houses can be built on," he said. "I just couldn't envision we would have anything that would be swap-able; and if we did, we'd have a pretty nice piece of property."

Still, Moak did not rule out the possibility, saying "of course I would think about that." But he had doubts about the viability of such a move.

"There are so many variables to that question," he said.

Fremont-Smith could not be reached for comment. However, at the Planning Board meeting this week, he said it was the first he had heard of such an option. He added that it is something he would be willing to consider.


The Wheelwright House - built in 1797 - was bought by Wills Lane Investments LLC earlier this year for $1.6 million. Wills Lane divided the home off from the rest of the property and sold the house last month for $1.225 million to a couple who plan to use it as a single-family home.

The Proposal

Where: Behind Wheelwright House, abutting Oak Hill Cemetery

Development: Four single-family homes

Land: 4 acres

Road: 420 feet long, 20 feet wide