WESTFIELD – The Community Preservation Committee held its quarterly meeting on Thursday. Jay Vinskey, principal planner for the city gave a report on Community Preservation Act funds available at this time. Vinskey said there is 1.18 million available, divided into different categories. CPA funds may be used to acquire and preserve land for open space and recreation, preserve and restore historical resources or support community housing. Vinskey said currently the allocation for historical preservation is depleted, but there is $770,000 available for open space, and also undesignated money remaining.
John Masuck of R. Levesque Associates presents the 88 Furrowtown Road proposal to the Community Preservation Committee on Thursday.
“There are two open space projects before you tonight,” Vinskey said. New and pending applications to be reviewed were the Baker property at 466 Montgomery Road for $179,900 and the Furrowtown property at 88 Furrowtown Road for $250,000.
The Baker property is 40 acres of farmland contiguous to another 27 acres the Bakers had previously donated to Westfield. The fair market value of the property, according to Vinskey is estimated at $210,000. The appraisal of $170,000 is for the property to remain open space with development rights, which Vinskey said struck him as a little high.
Thomas E. Sharp, who represents the Conservation Commission on the committee, said he would like to understand how the appraiser is establishing the value. Sharp asked the Bakers, who were present, if they would be willing to wait four months to better understand it.
Bob Baker said their intention was never to develop the land. He invited all members of the committee and other city officials to come and do a walkabout, which they agreed to do before the next meeting in April.
“Where I’m coming from, we need to come up with a better formula for purchasing development rights,” Sharp said. Later he added that the property is beautiful. “All I want is more time to approve the appraisal.”
“I’m fully in support of this project,” said CPC chair Joe Muto. A motion was voted to table the project until the next meeting.
Next up for review was the property at 88 Furrowtown Road for open space or recreation. John Masuck of R. Levesque Associates presented the proposal on behalf of their clients, The Streeters. The land is a 33-acre parcel, which includes an existing house with a front setback. Masuck said south and west of the parcel is the Westfield Sportsman’s Club. He said the balance of the land is wooded.
Raymond L. Frappier of the Westfield Sportsman’s club said the club is interested in purchasing ten acres of the land as a buffer zone for active shooting areas. He said they already maintain and mow the acreage for the Streeters, who he called “good neighbors.”
Frappier said he has been authorized by the club to enter in partnership with the city, offering $65,000 for the ten acres, plus 28 acres on the other side of the turnpike that they would like to donate to the city. He said the acreage they would like to donate is part of the headwaters of their pond, which they want to protect.
Frappier said they are the best stewards of the land, having been there since 1979. In response to a question, Frappier said the club owns 375 acres. “Some is protected, some is excluded,” he said. Their land includes 31 acres around the power lines, acreage which is restricted.
“The last time we talked, the city is not really interested in purchasing land, unless there’s a use for it,” Vinskey said.
Masuck said there are wetlands on the site, and a fair amount of upland. He said a hay field is mowed and maintained which could be used for passive recreation.
“Being so close to the Sportsman’s Club, would anyone want to use it, being so close to guns going off,” asked Cynthia Gaylord, Historical Commission member.
Muto asked if anyone was interested in doing a site visit on this parcel.
“For what purpose,” asked Gaylord.
“If I were to buy this, it would be to sit down with the Sportsman’s Club. The $250,000 (asking price) is outrageously high. You can’t build back there, it’s very wet,” said Sharp.
“That why I wonder why we’d buy it for development rights,” Gaylord added.
“From a recreation point of view, quite honestly, we have enough underwater recreation area,” commented Vincent Olinski, Parks and Recreation Commission member.
Muto said the number on the value was selected by The Streeters, and the land has not yet been appraised. He said the best action would be to table it for due diligence, and talk to the owners about doing an appraisal.
Vinskey said regarding the offer from the abutters, there may be a way for the city to work with them. The motion was approved to table the project until April.
