WPCNR CITY CIRCUIT. January 23, 2011:

 The Capital Projects Board voted unaminously this afternoon to spend $130,000 to purchase three-quarters of an acre of open space along Chapman Street off a development on Orchard Street to preserve the land as open space, adding it to the open space inventory.

Mayor Thomas Roach said the small parcel had been on the list of properties recommended by the Open Space Committee to acquire, and that it preserved a wild life habitat (of a migrating turtle) and also provided a buffer to the city's watershed property that is adjacent to the strip of land to be acquired.

Asked if the area would be open to the public, Chief of Staff John Callahan said that the city had not considered that possibility yet.

Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Nicoletti, told WPCNR and Councilperson Milagros Lecuona that the $130,000 would be paid for out of the city Water Fund.

The land first came to the attention of the city and opposition formed against the proposed subdivision in the summer of 2007. The prospect of opening the wooded area behind the subdivision to possible future development, and possible runoff into the reservoir across route 120,as well as a threat to the Eastern Box Turtle, were primary reasons why the city explored acquiring the strip.