BURRILLVILLE – The town has purchased a 7.35-acre property on Chapel Street with plans to retain it as open space in perpetuity according to documents filed this week with the Burrillville Town Clerk.
The lot, situated along the bike/pedestrian path, was purchased for $40,000 with the help of a $20,000 Open Space Grant from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.
Known as 0 Chapel St., the vacant land is situated just beside the Clear River and border another town-owned parcel by the roadway where Chapel Street reached Pascoag Main Street. It was previously owned by Bruce and David Barnes of Glocester, according to a deed recorded this week and recent assessments value the property at $136,300.
Unlike many of the recent improvements in the villages of Harrisville and Pascoag, the effort was not under the purview of the Burrillville Redevelopment Agency as the property sits outside of the town’s designated redevelopment zones.
The Town Council approved the initiative to apply for a 2024 State of Rhode Island Natural Heritage Preservation Commission Local Open Space Conservation and Acquisition Grant in October of 2023. The grant required 50 percent matching funds and that the property be kept open in perpetuity if acquired.
The approval, signed by Town Council President Donald Fox notes the lot will be used for development of walking trails and parking.
The premises possesses open, natural, scenic, agricultural, ecological, archeological, historic and educational value,” notes the easement agreement between the town and RIDEM. “Grantor and grantee recognize the value and special character of the premises and acknowledge a common purpose to conserve the value of the premises, and to conserve and protect the special plant and animal populations on the premises, and to prevent its use or development for any purpose or in any manner that would conflict with maintenance of the premises in its current natural, forested and scenic condition.”
The agreement between the town and the state agency, signed by Town Manager Micheal Wood and RIDEM Director Terrence Gray, notes the easement aims to ensure public access and the activity inconsistent with the purpose of the deal is prohibited, including construction of buildings, and even installation of fences and signs. The easement also travels with the land in the condition of a sale.
My life is so much richer now….