[Balke]

Just to play Devil's advocate:
In a legal sense, sometimes "in perpetuity" can mean indefinitely (i.e. no fixed term of years) and not necessarily forever and ever.

Traditionally, most property courts are loathe to enforce restrictions that permanently tie up property. You know, control of the dead hand and all.

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

Oh granted. However, I'll bet that the original town fathers had a different idea than the current setup.