Turkey Hill Open Space CPA Application 02-01-08
ÝÑÓÓËÒ×ÌÇ ÐÎÛÍÛÎÊßÌ×ÑÒ
ÐÎÑÖÛÝÌ ßÐÐÔ×ÝßÌ×ÑÒ ÚÑÎÓ
×æ Ю±¶»½¬ ײº±®³¿¬·±²
Mineral Hills Conservation Area, Turkey Hill Road Addition
Ю±¶»½¬ Ì·¬´»æ
Ю±¶»½¬ Í«³³¿®§æ
The project will add 90± acres of wetland and upland habitat as an
addition to the permanently protected Mineral Hills Conservation Area held by the
Conservation Commission. The land and related conservation restriction will be subject to
Article 97 of the Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution, which guarantees permanent
preservation. The purchase consists of three parcels:
60.6± acres in fee along Turkey Hill Road abutting three different conservation parcels,
11.53± acres by a Conservation Restriction abutting two different conservation parcels,
15 and 20 acres (not yet surveyed) in fee abutting one north of the existing conservation area.
The acquisition is a keystone to create an ecologically sustainable Mineral Hills Conservation
Area in Northampton and Westhampton from Turkey Hill to Chesterfield Road. Wildlife
corridors in the Mineral Hills are not currently preserved and the Mineral Hills Conservation
Area runs the risk of becoming an ecological island. Preserving these projects, currently
inholdings in the conservation area, will preserve a greater ecosystem. In addition, the project
enhances the quality of adjacent existing community and affordable housing.
Û¬·³¿¬»¼ ¬¿®¬ ¼¿¬»æ ß°®·´ éô îððè Û¬·³¿¬»¼ ½±³°´»¬·±² ¼¿¬»æ Ö«²» ïô îððè
ÝÐß Ð®±¹®¿³ ß®»¿ ø½¸»½µ ¿´´ ¬¸¿¬ ¿°°´§÷æ
ÈÈ Ñ°»² Í°¿½» Ø·¬±®·½ Ю»»®ª¿¬·±²
ݱ³³«²·¬§ ر«·²¹ λ½®»¿¬·±²
××æ ß°°´·½¿²¬ñÜ»ª»´±°»® ײº±®³¿¬·±²
ݱ²¬¿½¬ л®±² ¿²¼ ±®ñ°®·³¿®§ ¿°°´·½¿²¬æ É¿§²» Ú»·¼»²
Ñ®¹¿²·¦¿¬·±² ø·º ¿°°´·½¿¾´»÷æ Ò±®¬¸¿³°¬±² ݱ²»®ª¿¬·±² ݱ³³··±²
Ó¿·´·²¹ ß¼¼®»æ îïð Ó¿·² ͬ®»»¬ô α±³ ïïô Ò±®¬¸¿³°¬±²ô Óß ðïðêð
Ü¿§¬·³» °¸±²» ýæ ìïíóëèéóïîêë Ú¿¨ ýæ ìïíóëèéóïîêì
Û󳿷´ ¿¼¼®»æ ÉÚ»·¼»²àÒ±®¬¸¿³°¬±²Óßò¹±ª
×××æ Þ«¼¹»¬ Í«³³¿®§
̱¬¿´ ¾«¼¹»¬ º±® °®±¶»½¬æ üçèîôððð ø°´« ¼±²¿¬»¼ ½·¬§ ¬¿ºº ¬·³»ô ²±¬ ·²½´«¼»¼÷
ÝÐß º«²¼·²¹ ®»¯«»¬æ üíëðôððð
ÝÐß ®»¯«»¬ ¿ °»®½»²¬¿¹» ±º ¬±¬¿´ ¾«¼¹»¬æ íëòêû
Ü¿¬» Í«¾³·¬¬»¼æ ÁïñíðñîððèÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁ
Ю±¶»½¬ Ò¿®®¿¬·ª»
Ю±¶»½¬ ß¼¼®»» ݱ³³«²·¬§ Ю»»®ª¿¬·±² Ý®·¬»®·¿
Acquisition for permanent protection of a range of critical and natural plant and animal
habitats, including wetlands, rare or endangered species habitat, lands along major
streams.
Preservation of open space parcels that help define Northampton's character, including
parcels that limit the expansion of development into previously rural areas.
Protection of forestland and the rural character of outlying areas.
Protection of key parcels in one of the last remaining large undeveloped areas of town.
Passive recreation opportunities throughout the city.
Linkage and augmentation of open space parcels, to provide for passive recreation and
wildlife movement between large natural habitat areas.
Protection of vistas and "viewsheds".
Ю±¶»½¬ Í»®ª» ݱ³³«²·¬§ Ò»»¼
This project will serve all Northampton residents by providing passive recreation. It also
supports the adjacent Turkey Hill Road affordable housing created with City support
Ю±¶»½¬ ¸¿ ݱ³³«²·¬§ Í«°°±®¬
This project is part of a broader effort to create an ecologically sustainable Mineral Hills
Conservation Area. The broader project has already received contributions from hundreds of
Northampton residents, raised over $250,000 in community contributions, and raised more of
The Turkey Hill neighborhood, Broad Brook Coalition, Nonotuck Land Trust, and Ward 6
Association have all provided very strong support for the broader project.
The attached letters document some of the support we have received from the community.
Í«½½» Ú¿½¬±®
The success of this project will be measured by:
The purchase of the conservation parcel.
Î
The active involvement of the new informal Friends of Mineral Hills group in taking over
Î
routine maintenance of the new property.
The embracement of the new conservation area by the community.
Î
The ability of the project to serve as a catalyst in expanding the Mineral Hills
Î
Conservation Area until the entire ridgeline and critical wildlife habitat area are protected.
Ó¿·²¬»²¿²½»
Only a very low level of maintenance of the new parcel is required. Property boundaries get
walked once a year to ensure no encroachments. Hazard trees on property boundaries get
removed only if a true hazard and liability exists. Neighborhood partners maintain trails. The
vast majority of work is performed by volunteers. Staffing maintenance will average two
days per year and total non-staff costs will average less than $500. Existing volunteer and
city resources will be used for this work.
Ю±¶»½¬ Þ«¼¹»¬
Mineral Hills/Turkey Hill 2008 Project: Sources and Uses
City (in Self-Fund-CPA
Uses of Funds kind) Help Raising Request TOTAL
$960,000
Purchase Price $470,000 $140,000 $350,000
$6,000
Required improvements $6,000
$10,000
Project management (in-kind) $10,000
$16,000
Soft costs (appraisals, legal, etc) $16,000
TOTAL $10,000 $470,000 $162,000 $350,000 $992,000
As percent of total project 1.0% 47.4% 16.3% 35.3% 100%
Percent cash (no in-kind) 47.9% 16.5% 35.6% 100%
All CPA funds will be used directly for land acquisition. Other funds will pay for soft costs.
Soft-costs are based on quotes and similar experience. Some of these items will be contracted
for prior to final CPC and City Council action, but no CPC funds are requested for these items.
Ю±¶»½¬ Ì·³»´·²»
Prepare p
Request for Self-Help reimbursement..June 1, 2008 (state requirement)
Self-
Ю±¶»½¬ Ú»¿·¾·´·¬§
No permitting is required. Options and preliminary title searches have been obtained. Fundraising
is far enough along to be confident it can be completed on time. Large donors will not deliver on
pledges until CPC vote.
߬¬¿½¸³»²¬
1. Mineral Hills Area map, showing new areas
(in red) to be purchased in fee and by
conservation restriction.
2.
showing larger ecosystem context.
3.Oblique aerial photography of site.
4.Option for Kohl Property
5.Option for Mineral Hills Trust Property.
(Only western half the property is being
acquired because the holder of the right-of-
first refusal is exercising their right for the
easterly half.)