Peabody couple seeks purchase of city-owned land for conservation

PEABODY – With developments popping up across the city, one Peabody family wants to take matters into their own hands by purchasing a piece of city property for conservation purposes.Ruth and Steve Weick came before the Legal Affairs Committee last month with their proposal to purchase a 1-acre lot next to their Winona Street home. The husband and wife said their desire for the property comes from the fear that one day, the city might develop it or sell the land to someone else who will.”I’d like to preserve what we have left,” said Ruth Weick. “There’s nothing written in stone that says someone won’t be able to build there.”In her written application, she said the purchase of the land would add value to their current property and increase the wooded area of the neighborhood, “allowing the ‘Old West Peabody’ to continue in its natural state.” She also pointed out that the land would then become taxable income for the city.The lot is assessed at $4,500 and has a sale price of $9,000, which equates to $39 in yearly taxes, according to a memo from the Department of Community Development.City Councilor Dave Gamache told the council he feels comfortable selling the land to the Weicks but disagrees with charging them twice what it’s worth.Councilor Barry Osborne, too, felt that the Weicks would stand by their word and maintain the property as open space. He said if others felt uneasy, the Council could simply lock up the purchase and sale agreement with language that would legally bind them to.Others, however, would much rather see the land remain under the city’s ownership and control because of its close proximity to water.”The current owner may not wish to expand their home near or on the subject parcel, but a future owner may wish to build near this parcel,” wrote Community Development in a memo to City Council. “The Community Development Department does not recommend this sale and further recommends this parcel be transferred to the Peabody Conservation Commission to be legally protected in perpetuity by Massachusetts General Laws.”The Director of the city’s Recreation, Park and Forestry Department, Richard P. Walker, also expressed his belief that the city should maintain control over the lot.”One of the principle goals of the Recreation and Open Space Plan is, whenever possible, to acquire land that is contiguous to existing open space and wetlands,” he said. “It makes little sense to sell property meeting that description that is already owned by the city.”Before making a final decision, several of the councilors plan to take a tour of the area to get a better understanding of its proximity to the city’s water supply and other abutting properties.”I was going to vote against it,” said Councilor James Liacos. “But, I’m willing to look into it.”