RUSS FOX
SOUTHWICK – The Community Preservation Commission (CPC) is hoping the Board of Selectmen will approve spending up to $4 million to preserve property on North Pond.
The property is for sale for $5 million.
The two boards met this week, along with Same Lovejoy of Massachusetts Fish and Wildlife and members of the Southwick Conservation Commission, to discuss the property.
Lovejoy said Fish and Wildlife would come up with $1 million and keep a small portion at the back of the land to preserve a bird habitat.
The land was originally offered for $12 million but the value has depreciated and the owner hopes the town will purchase the land for preservation rather than sell it to a developer for subdivisions.
CPC member Dennis Clark said there is a $400,000 grant that would help with the purchase cost but they cannot apply without selectmen approval.
“We need the selectmen’s endorsement before we can apply for land grants,” Clark said.
CPC member John Whalley said it was a priority of the Commission to purchase the land and Congamond Restoration Committee members Deb Herath and Jerry Crane supported the purchase.
Selectman Russell Fox told the CPC and Lovejoy he needed more time to mull the request.
“I would suggest we need to do a lot of research – and the only way we could pull this off is with grant money,” Fox said.
Fox later said he was confused about the CPC’s requests. Commissioners stressed the importance of preserving the land and said it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. The group also put forth a list of projects at Whalley Park at a cost of $750,000.
“If this is the opportunity of a lifetime, where are the priorities?” Fox said.
Fox was concerned about the CPC’s suggestion to bond for the money to purchase the land and noted that taxpayers were getting hit with the debt exclusion for the school project, and there was a sewer project coming up.
“We need to meet with the Park and Recreation Commission and CPC,” said Fox. “We have to bring prople together to talk.”
