Conservation Fund Application
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION
PROJECT APPLICATION COVER SHEET
I: Project Information
Project Title: Conservation Commission Conservation Fund
Project Summary: The Conservation Commission requests CPA funds to recapitalize
the Conservation Fund, established under Massachusetts General Law C40 S 8C.
The Fund is used for high-priority, time-sensitive acquisitions to permanently protect
open space for conservation and agriculture purposes. $100,000 is being requested
to fund soft costs related to permanent open space preservation, hard costs under
$20,000 per project, and hard costs over $20,000 with the approval of the
Community Preservation Committee. All fee acquisitions funded in whole or part
through CPA contributions will have conservation or agricultural preservation
restrictions placed upon them. Less-than-fee acquisitions will have conservation or
agriculture preservation restrictions held by the Conservation Commission.
Estimated start date: June, 2012 Estimated completion date: June, 2014
CPA Program Area (check all that apply):
Open Space � Historic Preservation
� Community Housing � Recreation
II: Applicant/Developer Information
Contact Person and or/primary applicant: Wayne Feiden
Property Owner (if applicable): Multiple Properties consistent with Northampton
Open Space, Recreation, and Multi-Use Trail Plan.
Organization (if applicable): Northampton Conservation Commission
Mailing Address: 210 Main Street, City Hall, Northampton MA 01060
Daytime phone #: 413-587-1265 Fax #: 413-587-1264
E-mail address: wfeiden@northamptonma.gov
III: Budget Summary
Total budget for project: $300,000
CPA funding request: $100,000
CPA request as percentage of total budget: 33%
Applicant’s Signature: __________
Date Submitted: February 8, 2012________________
Conservation Fund CPA Application 1
CONSERVATION FUND CPA APPLICATION
Narrative:
The Conservation Fund is an important tool in the Conservation Commission’s land-
protection toolbox. Land acquisitions are often time-sensitive, and the time required to
obtain City-Council approval of the allocation of funds would make many land protection
efforts infeasible. Having funds readily available for soft-costs, such as appraisals, 21E
assessments and recording fees, as well as hard costs for smaller acquisitions, and
leveraging for grants, has enabled the protection of many acres that would not
otherwise have been possible.
Community Preservation Criteria
The project meets several Community Preservation general criteria:
Contributes to the preservation of Northampton’s unique character, boosts the vitality of
the community, and enhances the quality of life for its residents
One of the key factors that defines Northampton’s unique character and sense of
place is its diverse open spaces located throughout the City. The project will
help to protect those open spaces and recreation opportunities.
Addresses recommendations contained in the Sustainable Northampton comprehensive
plan and/or the Northampton Open Space and Recreation Plan 2005-2010, Open Space,
Recreation, and Mixed Use Trail Plan 2011-2017 or is consistent with other city-wide
planning efforts that have received broad-based scrutiny and input and can
demonstrate wide community support
The Fund has been used to protect key parcels identified in the Open Space
Plan, and has also helped to lay the field for future recreation opportunities
identified as priorities.
Saves resources that would otherwise be threatened
Often, properties protected through the Conservation Fund are immediately
threatened by development. There have been instances where the Fund was
used to protect land on which approved residential subdivision plans had already
been obtained.
Receives endorsement by community groups, municipal boards and/or departments
The application is presented by the Conservation Commission and Office of
Planning and Development.
Leverages additional public and/or private funds, or demonstrates that other funding
sources are not readily available or sufficient
Spending from the Conservation Fund is typically accompanied by leveraging
from grant or other funds
Can be implemented expeditiously and within budget
Conservation Fund CPA Application 2
Past awards to the Conservation Fund have all been carried out within the
estimated year implementation time, and have used funds wisely to protect
several important open space parcels.
The Project also carries the potential to meet all of the Open Space Evaluation criteria,
depending on the types of land protection opportunities that become available.
Community Need/Protections/Project Feasibility and Success
The project protects sensitive ecological resources, prime agricultural farmland, and
invaluable historic landscapes. All of these resources are identified as priorities in the
Open Space and Recreation Plan.
Permanent conservation or agricultural preservation restrictions will be placed on all
properties acquired with CPA funds. These will vary depending on the location of the
property acquired, but could include partners such as MassAudubon, the Broad Brook
Coalition, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, land trusts, abutting
towns, or others.
Success of the project will be measured by the number of properties, and the amount
of acres able to be permanently protected, either through fee acquisition or
conservation restrictions. Fee-simple properties, once acquired, will be owned and
maintained by the Conservation Commission. Staff will annually monitor and, if
necessary, enforce violations of conservation restrictions held by the City.
Project Budget: $100,000
Due to the nature of property acquisitions, it is not possible to establish a project
timeline. Land protection through the Conservation Fund is an ongoing project, and
CPA funds could be used for a variety of different types of expenditures, at different
stages in the process for each targeted protection effort.
A great deal of information must be gathered about each parcel prior to completion of a
land protection effort. These are done on a site-specific basis, and could include
appraisals, 21E assessments, surveys, zoning and conservation permits, identifying and
engaging project partners, and drafting of conservation or agricultural preservation
restrictions.
Each project is different and the 33% is an estimate based on past experiences. Other
funding comes from community fundraising efforts, partner (e.g., Broad Brook
Coalition, Mass Audubon, Kestrel Trust) contributions from their own fundraising and
grant writing efforts, small grants, City tax title cash contributions, and property owner
contributions. The figure is an overall figure, with some acquisitions being a higher
percentage of CPA (up to 100%) and some a lower percentage (down to 1%), but is a
good overall figure.
Attachments:
Support Letters to be provided as received
Conservation Fund CPA Application 3