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Project Application COMMUNITY PRESERVATION PROJECT APPLICATION – Saw Mill Hills Survey I: Project Information Project Title: Saw Mill Hills Survey Project Summary: CPA funding is sought for a survey of the Sawmill Hills area. Having the area surveyed will allow the Conservation Commission to blaze and monitor existing property boundaries that are currently not exactly known, and will also allow the Commission to prepare for future acquisitions of surrounding property Estimated start date: Spring, 2014 Estimated completion date: Spring, 2015 CPA Program Area (check all that apply): X Open Space Historic Preservation Community Housing Recreation II: Applicant/Developer Information Contact Person and or/primary applicant: Wayne Feiden for the Conservation Commission Property Owner (if applicable): Northampton Conservation Commission and others Organization (if applicable): Northampton Conservation Commission Mailing Address: 210 Main Street, Room 11 Daytime phone #: 413-587-1265 Fax #: 413-587-1264 E-mail address & Website: wfeiden@northamptonma.gov, http://northamptonma.gov/1045/Conservation-Commission III: Budget Summary Total budget for project: $50,000 CPA funding request: $40,000 CPA request as percentage of total budget: 80% Applicant’s Signature Date Submitted: February 3, 2014 1 Project Narrative: The Saw Mill Hills earned their local name during the 19 century when they were th extensively logged. Today, most of the land is forested and it’s easy to find sections that have not been cut for over a century. The area, also including Roberts Hill in Leeds, includes 650 protected acres in the western portion of the City, pieced together with twenty different parcels of land over the past two decades. Some of these parcels have not been surveyed, and most of the property boundaries are not marked. Surveys are now typically completed prior to land acquisition, but much of the Saw Mill Hills predates this practice. The Conservation Commission would like to have the boundaries of the Saw Hill Hills surveyed and blazed, which will allow for more effective monitoring and awareness. Surrounding properties will also be surveyed, which will allow the Commission to be prepared to move forward quickly on future purchases if priority parcels become available. This kind of comprehensive area wide survey was already completed for the Mineral Hills, and another is underway for the Broad Brook Greenway and Fitzgerald Lake. These surveys were funded with grant funds received for land management, which is not an option in this area. They have proven extremely useful for the Commission and its management partners for stewardship and planning activities. The surveys have improved management of the conservation areas, allowing the city and other stewards to identify encroachments and problems, and have proved to save money in the long run by avoiding the more expensive parcel surveys needed for each new acquisition when there is no overall baseline in the area. The survey will include properties that we own, or are in the process of purchasing. Other properties will be added to the survey if they have already been surveyed in the past, so that all information will be available in one place. Our partners, primarily Kestrel Land Trust, increasingly will only partner with us when a survey is complete and this has become the standard of care expected in the land management public and land trust communities. Community Preservation 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 The project will result in an increased awareness the open spaces available for recreation in the Sawmill Hills, make planning for maintenance and improvements easier, and allow for future expansions of the area. Northampton’s open spaces, including the Saw Mill Hills, help contribute to the City’s character and sense of place. Addresses recommendations contained in the Sustainable Northampton comprehensive plan and/or the Northampton Open Space, Recreation, and Mixed Use Trail Plan 2011-2018 or is consistent with other city-wide planning efforts that have received broad-based scrutiny and input and can demonstrate wide community support 2 The project will help to meet several recommendations contained in the Open Space Plan: Protection of key parcels in the last remaining large undeveloped areas of town – Broad Brook and Beaver Brook Watersheds, Marble Brook Watershed, Saw Mill Hills, Mineral Hills, and the Meadows. Expand preservation along the Saw Mill Hills, which extend from the Williamsburg town line south through Roberts Hill and the Saw Mill Hills and largely end at Ryan Road. Connecting all of the gaps and missing teeth, acquiring all of the ridge and the vernal pools and buff ers to the vernal pools is the the top priority. It will also help the Commission to blaze and monitor the boundaries of the area and allow for more effective stewardship, which is also a recommendation of the Plan. Saves resources that would otherwise be threatened The survey will allow the Commission to act quickly on the protection of future parcels that could otherwise be threatened by development Receives endorsement by community groups, municipal boards and/or departments, and City residents The project is proposed by the Conservation Commission, and supported by the Office of Planning and Sustainability. Additional Support Letters to follow. Leverages additional public and/or private funds, or demonstrates that other funding sources are not readily available or sufficient Staff time to oversee the project, as well as $10,000 in matching funds, will be provided by the Office of Planning and Sustainability Demonstrates a high benefit/cost value Conducting a single comprehensive area-wide survey is a labor-intensive undertaking with a high up-front cost. However, it also provides cost savings during later acquisitions, when no additional surveys are required. Additionally, the cost of completing a survey for the entire area at once is much less than completing individual surveys later, since the surveying team can pass along savings in economies of scale. The survey and subsequent boundary blazing will also provide an immediate benefit to the area, and will allow the Commission to effectively monitor the boundaries for any encroachments. Can be implemented expeditiously and within budget The cost estimate for the project is based upon recent experience with area-wide surveys. Bids will be sought as soon as funds are awarded, and the project will be complete within one year. The survey and blazing project, along with any subsequent purchases that it will help to enable, also addresses many of the Plan’s Open Space evaluation criteria: Permanently protect important, unique or threatened plants, animals, habitat or corridors, including areas that are of significance for biodiversity 3 Preserve Northampton’s rural and agricultural character, scenic views and community character defining views Provide opportunities for passive recreation and environmental education Provide connections with existing non-motorized multi-use trails or potential trail linkages Preserve valuable surface water resources, including rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, buffer zones, vernal pools and riparian zones Protect aquifer recharge areas and drinking water quality and quantity Preserve large strategic tracts of undeveloped land and parcels adjacent to existing permanently protected open space Advances goals and objectives of the 2011-2018 Open Space, Recreation, and Multi-Use Trail Plan. What community need(s) does this project serve? If the project serves multiple needs and populations, please describe them. If the project serves a population that is currently underserved, please describe. The project will allow the Commission to mark the entire boundary of the Saw Mill Hills Conservation Area, which will help stewardship partners, hikers, and other users to explore and utilize more of the 650 acres without trespassing, and will increase wayfinding in an area that is currently unmarked. What specific guarantees will assure the long-term preservation of the project? Commission staff will walk the boundary of the area every two years (something that is currently extremely difficult), re-painting blazes and posting boundary line markers as needed. Any future purchases will be permanently protected. What community support does the project have? Explain the nature and level of the support. The project is supported by the Office of Planning and Sustainability, Conservation Commission, and the Leeds Civic Association (LCA). Volunteers from LCA are working to install conservation area signage along some of the boundaries of Roberts Hill, but boundaries are not easily identified in many locations. This project will help with those efforts. How will the success of this project be measured? The project will be measured a success when a survey of the area is complete, and boundaries are marked. Is ongoing maintenance and upkeep required? If yes, please explain how this will be accomplished. The blazing will require occasional touchups. Commission staff and interns will walk the boundaries every two years to look for encroachments and refresh paint. Project Budget The project is estimated to cost approximately $50,000, based on preliminary estimates and experience with previous surveys. A full and more aggressive bid process will be 4 completed if funds are awarded. Due to economies of scale, it is not possible to break the project into different phases. Project Timeline and Feasibility: Project quotes will be sought as soon as CPA funding is awarded, with the full survey complete in one year. There are no additional permits or permissions required. Attachments: Sawmill Hills Map Example Comprehensive Survey – Mineral Hills Support Letters to be provided as received 5 Sawmill Hills Map 6