E. Longmeadow Discusses Land Purchase Proposal
by Bill Dusty
On Tuesday, October 21, a public forum was held at the East Longmeadow’s Town Hall to discuss the proposed purchase by the town of land owned by the estate of Marie L. Goldstein and Ronald Goldstein. Town Selectman Chair James D. Driscoll presided over the meeting, which included a PowerPoint presentation. According to Driscoll, the forum was the last of several meetings held to discuss the acquisition of the Goldstein property. The land being considered consists of approximately 78 acres of undeveloped former farmland located off of Somers Road (see map, below). The sale price of the land set for $3.5 million. The appraised price was valued at $3.6 million. Fitzgerald & Associates performed the appraisal.
Click image to enlarge.
Driscoll said that funding for the purchase would combine money from the Community Preservation Fund, land sales, and acquiring a 20-year bond. He assured those in attendance that there would be no raise in taxes as a result of the purchase.
According to Driscoll, the immediate goal of the land purchase is to retain “passive, open space.” Any plans to develop the property for specific uses would be discussed at a future time. He stressed repeatedly throughout the meeting that a vote being taken at a special town meeting scheduled for Monday, October 27, was strictly for the purpose of voting for or against the purchase. There would be no discussion on the possible long-term use of the land. This brought questions from several residents attending the meeting.
John Burney, a local farmer, was quite vocal in his concern over possible future use of the property. He asked how residents could vote on a land purchase without knowing how the land would be used or developed in the future. “That could be a huge difference,” he said, “as to purchasing a piece of land and keeping it as open space versus purchasing a piece of land and developing off the frontage and building ball fields. Those are two completely different things.”
“You’re absolutely right,” responded Driscoll. “But the only thing we’re talking about now, John, for Monday, is purchase of open space.”
“I understand that,” said Burney. “But you have to have a long-range plan. We would like to know what the long-range plan [for the property] is.”
“The long-range plan,” answered Driscoll, “as it stands now, is nothing else but purchase it and leave it as-is for passive, open space. That’s it.”
Property owner Keith Lindner asked for a clarification on what was meant by “acceptable” future use of the land, as various ideas were being floated around at the hearing. Baseball and soccer fields are considered acceptable use, for example, as are senior housing and affordable housing. School construction is not considered acceptable use under the terms of funding conditions that determine “open space” usage, said Driscoll. Lindner’s property at Redstone Lake was under consideration for purchase by the town prior to the selection of the Goldstein property. Lindner told the Intruder that his property would have been ideal for open space usage, with trees, pathways, and swimming available to visitors.
Both Driscoll and Town Selectman Jack Villamaino, who appeared after the start of the hearing, said that any future development of the property would be subject to a Town Meeting vote, as any funding would need to be approved.
Voting on the property purchase is scheduled under Article 4 at a Special Town Meeting slated for Monday, October 27, 2008, at East Longmeadow High School. For more details on the purchase, see a pdf. version of the PowerPoint presentation here. For more information on the voting schedule for Monday’s special town meeting, go here.
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