WESTFIELD – The Community Preservation Commission (CPC) voted Thursday night to approve the purchase of more than 62 acres of farm lands off Northwest Road currently owned by John Pitoniak.
The CPA had voted to recommend the purchase nearly two years ago. Last year the City Council, which has to appropriate the purchase funds under the provisions of the Community Preservation Act (CPA), heard the details of the deal from Thomas Pitoniak, John’s nephew.
However the City Council could not act on the CPC’s recommendation because of a technical issue. Under the CPA there is a requirement for an organization to act as the agency to ensure conditions of the conservation restriction are enforced.
Originally the city, which will now own the property, had planned to have the city’s Conservation Commission serve as that agent, but was informed by state officials that the city could not be both the owner and conservation restriction enforcement agency.
City Planner Jay Vinskey said the issue has been resolved and the new funding request, which was increased by $21,500, includes money for the National Audubon Society, through a local chapter, will serve as the conservation restriction enforcement agency.
“This project has already been vetted (through the state),” Vinskey said. “We had trouble finding a holder of the conservation restriction, but we have found an organization.
The vote to send the funding request of $381,500 to Mayor Daniel M. Knapik and the City Council includes $20,000 for the holding agency to administer the conservation restriction, and $1,500 for the property appraisal and deed registration fees.
The purchase of the 62.9 acres is part of 113 acres that will come under conservation restrictions. The land abuts Little River and includes woodlands adjoining city owned property where a municipal water well is located.
CPC Chairman Joe Muto said the commission “fully supported this (when it was originally proposed) and still does.”
Commissioner George Martin, who is also a member of the Conservation Commission, said he hoped Knapik and the City Council could act quickly on the appropriation.
“This the last piece of a large farm,” Martin said.
The CPC had placed the funds into a open space3 reserve account after the first vote to support the project, so the money has been available, just waiting for the City Council action to complete the purchase.
The board also acted to approve a conservation restriction of 20 acres of farm and wooded land at the northeast corner of the intersection of Southampton and North Road (routes 10 and 202 respectively) for $45,000.
Sarah LaCour of Conservation Works, LLC of Amherst, representing Joan Corell and her brother Robert Seher, said the conservation restriction will be held the Winding River Land Conservancy. The siblings will continue to own the property at 1277 and 1295 Southampton Road , but are selling the right to develop it for commercial or residential use in the future.
LaCour said it is important to place the property under a conservation restriction because in contains a number of important sensitive environments, including endangered species habitat and is currently under investigation by the City’s Conservation Coordinator Karen Leigh because it may contain a vernal pool. Placing the land under the restriction preserves open space and water quality of the Barnes Aquifer while is below the property.
LaCour said the appraised value of the development rights is $225,000, but the property owners are seeking only $45,000 to purchase the development rights under the conservation restriction.
The board approved the request by a unanimous 5-0 vote.
