Southwick voters approved an article to purchase land owned by Seth Kellogg to be used as passive recreation and conservation land . (File photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – Although acquisition of more than 100 acres of land from Seth Kellogg for passive recreational use was approved last fall at Town Meeting, two neighbors of the property still have concerns.
The Board of Selectmen approved allowing Chairman Arthur Pinell to speak to the neighbors who said they have right of way use of the property.
“There is ongoing activity and we’re trying to move this forward,” said Pinell.
Attorneys have conducted a title search and Pinell said there is no finding of a right of way.
“They’re not aware of any right of way discovered during title search,” he said. “But during numerous conversations with these two individuals (I think) there may be documents to support it. I’d like to facilitate a meeting with the interested parties.”
The residents will be asked to provide any documentation they may have regarding he property.
“My conversations with them were about them wanting to resolve these issues,” Pinell said. “They talked about moving the right of way so there would be minimal infringement on the intended use by the town.”
That property, located off South Loomis Street, was sold to the town by Kellogg for passive recreational use as conservation land protected in perpetuity.
Kellogg said he wanted to keep the land – complete with trails and brooks – as it is.
Since the Southwick Community Preservation Committee approved funding $185,000 toward the purchase of the land, and the town approved the purchase, it will.
“It will stay as it is,” he said. “I’m happy about that.”
The total land value is $540,000. Sixty-six percent of that was paid by the state through a land grant ($185,000.)
CPC member Dennis Clark said a trust for the 134 acres of land would be held by the Winding River Land Conservancy and would include conservation restrictions.
Kellogg said the land has been in his family for 300 years and was passed down from generation to generation.
To listen to the meeting, click here.
