All the members of the Warwick Land Trust support a plan that if successful would place a $15 million bond measure on the ballot next November. The bond measure would ask voters to approve the City raising the funds to acquire and protect over 500 acres of open space.

The Land Trust hopes not only will the City Council and General Assembly support the measure to go to the ballot, but that voters will approve it.

To help answer questions, and gain feedback about the proposal the Land Trust scheduled three community forums. A meeting occurred Monday night for Wards 4, 5 and 6 and one took place yesterday for Wards 7, 8 and 9. A final forum will take place on Monday Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. at the Warwick Public Central Library for Wards 1, 2 and 3. 

Nathan Cornell, a member of the Land Trust said the trust endorsed a plan he prepared in September to acquire properties, mostly in Cowesett including the Little Rhody Beagle Club, Valley Country Club, Fisher Property, Met Life Property, Allen Property, and the YMCA & AMCAP.  

The bond would also pay for conservation easements at Canyon 1, farmland near Dawley farm, the Conimicut Marsh Properties Petronio Lots: Coldwell Street, the Tuscatucket Brook

Properties, Spring Green Pond, and the old growth forest bordering the Little Rhody Beagle Club. 

“The rest of the bond would be allocated for conservation easements which would be legal agreements with private property owners to keep their land protected as open space so it can never be developed,” Cornell said in his presentation. 

Cornell explained that since the 1960s “almost all the open space in Warwick has been developed. Apart from Morris Farm and the few farms left in Potowomut, all the farmland has disappeared, and the forest land has been fragmented and much of it destroyed.”

He said that the remaining open space is in the Cowesett area west of route 95 and in the Natick area.

A graduate of Toll Gate and member of the Warwick School Committee, Cornell initiated a drive to identify old growth trees in Warwick that has gained favor with members of the Land Trust and environmentalists. In his pursuit to identify and save old growth trees, Cornell has found several mature American Chestnut trees that arborist Matthew Largess believes could be some of the biggest in the northeast.

Cornell has also been vocal in opposing plans for the development of solar farms at the Little Rhody Beagle Club, Kent County YMCA property and Valley Country Club and supporting a 6-month moratorium on a city solar ordinance recently approved by the City Council.

If the city were to do nothing Cornell reasons all of the open space areas not owned by the City would be developed. He said that “the quality of some neighborhoods will go down due to over development and lack of open space for residents to enjoy.”

Leslie Derrig, Chairperson for the Land Trust explained that each property was “identified by forested land that was identified by solar developers that were interested in leasing their property for solar use. Others were coastal, wetlands and farmland.” The largest of the properties identified by the trust is the 153-acre Valley Country Club golf course.

One question that has been raised so far is why include some properties in the plan that aren’t for sale. Derrig said that with a favorable recommendation for a solar ordinance from the Planning Board sent to the City Council that would prevent solar developments in residential zones, she expects that some of the properties will be for sale if the ordinance is approved. A Council vote on the solar ordinance hasn’t been scheduled yet.

“Once solar developers find they are not able to have their properties re-zoned for solar, they will back away from leasing the properties,” said Derrig. “The owners of the property will more than likely be looking to sell to anyone who will give them the money. Even housing opportunities could destroy the forests.”

Ahead of the forums Ward 9 Councilman Vincent Gebhart sent out a survey to his constituents asking for feedback on the plan. Out of the 58 replies so far 41 have said that they were  “strongly in favor” after looking at the proposal initially.  Two said that they were “strongly in opposition.”

Cornell said that in order to get the bond measure on the ballot it would have to be approved by the City Council. He said that he thinks the community will rally behind the idea. 

“I think there will be a lot of community support for it,” Cornell said. 

Over the years the Land Trust has purchased and maintained open spaces in Warwick.

“We have acquired the Passeonkquis Cove properties and the Conimicut Marsh properties (43 lots),” said Derrig. “We have headed up neighborhood clean-ups and worked with the city to pick up the garbage. We also have a lot on Bradford Ave, near Goddard Park that we have been trying to save from destruction by the city allowing an OWL ISDS system that would have a huge impact on our property and the bay.” 

As far as maintaining the properties if the bond is approved, Derrig said that presently most of the properties they hope the city will acquire aren’t maintained so she doesn’t see an issue.

“These properties have never been maintained now, so I do not assume there would be much to them,” said Derrig. “We do watch over the properties we have now and call in volunteers to clean-up for no cost. We have a great network of volunteers who are committed in their neighborhood and are willing to show their pride in the areas they live.”

Council President Steve McAllister said he invited the Land Trust to speak before the Council during the March 7 meeting. According to Liz Tufts, a spokesperson for Mayor Frank Picozzi the Land Trust hasn’t asked to meet with the Mayor as of Wednesday morning.