The Charlestown Town Council approved an upcoming referendum to let the voters decide whether or not the town should purchase 81 acres that abuts land owned by the Narragansett Indian tribe.
The parcel, which is located north of Route 1 on Kings Factory Road, was up for discussion during an executive session on Oct. 17. This came three days after the council had talked about the issue behind closed doors, before and during its regularly scheduled meeting.
By ANDREW MARTIN
The Charlestown Town Council approved an upcoming referendum to let the voters decide whether or not the town should purchase 81 acres that abuts land owned by the Narragansett Indian tribe.
The parcel, which is located north of Route 1 on Kings Factory Road, was up for discussion during an executive session on Oct. 17. This came three days after the council had talked about the issue behind closed doors, before and during its regularly scheduled meeting.
For the time being, the council approved a purchase-and-sale agreement via a 3-1 vote - council President James M. Mageau against - for the land. But that agreement will be finalized by the Charlestown voters, who will have the final say whether the town should spend $5.5 million for the 81 acres. The town has a 90-days to issue a referendum per the town charter, according to Town Solicitor Robert E. Craven.
Waterman said she voted for the referendum option because for numerous reasons. "Everyone knows this is a pretty special spot," she said. "It's a very [attractive] spot and people breathe a sigh of relief as they go from the more congested areas into this free, open, and undeveloped area."
Waterman continued to say that the parcel could easy be turned into "anytown," meaning that a developer could move in, throw some houses down, and ruin part of the town's rural character. "It's a part of what's very special in Charlestown," she added.
Councilor Harriet A. Allen said the entire council felt purchasing the land was a decision that should be made by the voters. "It's not just a charter requirement," she added. She said it's also a free option to go to referendum. Even though the town entered a purchase-sale agreement, buying the land is the people's option.
"It's going to be up to the people. I'm very pleased that Mr. LeBlanc, through his lawyer, is giving this opportunity to the people," Allen said. In her opinion, the land is worth anywhere from $1 million to $20 million. The land was assessed at $1.1 million six or seven years ago, according to Craven.
Both Allen and Waterman were grateful to see this offer on the table again.
Waterman noted that four councils ago, former Town Administrator Robert MacDougall had made a deal with LeBlanc. But the council never got together to make any type of decision, which she said was extremely unfortunate. Since then, she said the town has spent copious amounts of money defending this piece of property.
"The price may be high, but I think the chances are, in the long run, buying it would be the most cost effective thing to do," Waterman said.
Craven said the topic of purchasing came up Oct. 1 during a meeting with LeBlanc, his lawyer, Public Works Director Alan Arsenault, and Town Administrator Edward Barrett. "[LeBlanc and his lawyer] put the cards on the table and said they believe there are interested parties," Craven said. He continued to say that the developer and his lawyer explained the other parties'
interests could be in the realm of gaming or other topics that Charlestown has opposed. Waterman and Allen also recognized the threat of a casino. Waterman said that if the town loses its case in the U.S. Supreme Court that there is no question an outside gaming interest could fund the tribe's annexation of the land.
According to Allen, the value of the land could ultimately depend on the court's ruling. Waterman added she is concerned about the land's trust status because that would take away town and state jurisdiction.
Currently, the 81-acre parcel is in a trust that represents the best interests of LeBlanc's late wife, Craven said. He explained that her will expressed the wish to use the land in a municipal sense. "But because it is in a trust, they have to do what is best for the beneficiaries," Craven said.
Craven went on to say that the landowners could go in a different direction based on the outcome of the U.S. Supreme Court case surrounding the Narragansett Indian tribe's settlement land. If the town loses the case, Craven said investors could look into partnering with or being involved with the tribe, which could lead to a casino or other business.
The latest news on the case is that the Charlestown Town Council voted unanimously to fully support Joseph S. Larisa Jr., Town Solicitor for Indian Affairs, to argue before the Supreme Court. Although the councilors had shown their support through a past resolution, they were recently asked by Gov. Donald L. Carcieri to consider his attorney of choice, Theodore B. Olson.
The choice to have Olson or Larisa argue the case could essentially come down to a coin flip, which Craven said has happened in Supreme Court cases before. But at this point, he said Carcieri's office has not agreed to that idea.
|
