City Council pauses on taking land for trail along river levee

June 8, 2022 | Peter Currier
pcurrier@thereminder.com

WESTFIELD – The City Council on June 2 tabled a vote to take real estate by eminent domain to provide public access to the Westfield River Levee for the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail after councilors expressed concerns over the possibility of residential properties falling under the order.

Ward 3 Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane said she was concerned over the map of the project that showed structures on residential properties being taken by the city.

“We are going to be taking down fences, sheds, half a garage, and a corner of a house,” said Matthews-Kane.

The area in question is on Congress Street. Matthews-Kane said she was in favor of the project as a whole, but wanted multiple questions answered before it proceeds. She said she was also told of “significant encroachment issues” on the levee where some residents though part of the levee was their yard.

“It is not clear to me. If we take half a garage, who is responsible for taking that down?” said Matthews-Kane.

Ward 2 Councilor Ralph Figy assured her that no private property will need to be taken down, and that a similar situation had come up in his own ward when the first section of the rail trail was being constructed.

“I was told it was all property we already own,” said Figy, later adding: “The city isn’t going to make somebody take their pool or shed or house down.”

He said the motion would also not result in the city taking any actual new property, but rather it is to ensure to MassDOT that the city does have ownership of the land in question before the project begins. At-large Councilor Richard Sullivan said that any encroachment issues relating to the levee and the rail trail will come up when the homeowner attempts to sell the property.

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