Jail Farm Small Grant.docCOMMUNITY PRESERVATION
COMBINED SMALL GRANT
ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION FORM
Project Title: Historic ‘Jail Farm’ Agricultural Restoration
Project location, including address and parcel number: Ventures Field Road, Map ID 32-051
Project Sponsor/Organization: Northampton Office of Planning & Sustainability, in cooperation with Conservation Commission and Agricultural Commission
Contact Name: Wayne Feiden, Director of Planning and Sustainability
Property Owner, if applicable: Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, to be transferred to the City of Northampton c/o its Conservation Commission
Mailing Address: 210 Main Street, Room 11, Northampton MA 01060
Daytime phone #: 413-587-1265
Fax #: 413-587-1264
E-mail address: wfeiden@northamptonma.gov
CPA Program Area (check those that apply):
X Open Space � Historic Preservation
� Community Housing � Recreation
Project Purpose (check those that apply) :
� Preservation
X Rehabilitation/Restoration
Applicant’s Signature:
Date Submitted: February 1, 2017
For CPC Use Eligible: _____ Not Eligible: _____ Date: __________ Reviewer: ____________________
Appropriate for Small Grant Process_____
Referred to Traditional Funding Round______
Total Project Budget (not to exceed $6,000.00): $6,000
CPA Funding Request (not to exceed $3,000.00): $3,000
Funding from other sources: $2,000 cash, $1,000 labor match
List any in-kind donations of labor or materials:
The Office of Planning and Sustainability commits to providing $2,000 in matching funds, and $1,000 in-kind match (staff oversight and labor) towards the project.
CPA Request as % of Total Budget: 50%
Budget Summary: Please specify how CPA funds will be spent. Itemize all projected expenditures. If budget is based on a quote, please attach it. List any additional funding sources
or donations of in-kind service. These funds must be secured at the time of application, as evidenced by a signed commitment letter referencing the content of the application, and
including any restriction on the use of funds.
Estimated budget:
Professional forester – land clearing $3,000
Car and Debris Removal $3,000
The budget is an estimate based on previous and similar forestry and debris removal work at other conservation areas. CPA funds will be used to hire a professional forester, and the
Office of Planning and Sustainability commits $1,000 in staff time to project oversight and hands-on work at the site, and a $2,000 cash match toward removal of debris at the site and
additional forestry work in excess of the CPA funds.
1) Please provide a brief description of the project.
The Office of Planning and Sustainability has been working with the state Division of Capital Access Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) over the past several years on the transfer of
surplus state parcels that meet open space and recreation goals to the Conservation Commission. The Commission took ownership of one of these – the floodplain forest off of Pomeroy
Terrace, in 2014. This area now includes a walking trail network developed by the Cutchins Center. Also in DCAMM’s land portfolio is an adjacent three acre parcel of land on Venturers
Field Road that was used as farmland for the Union Street Jail, until the existing House of Corrections facility on Route 66 was constructed in 1984. That new facility, with its nearby
farmland, rendered the Venturers Field parcel unneeded, and the state abandoned all use of the property.
Legislation has been filed to surplus the property to the City, which should be finalized during this legislative session. Once that approval is complete, the Conservation Commission,
City Council, and Agricultural Commission have already approved the
purchase, and the transfer can happen almost immediately. Over the last 33+ years since the parcel was farmed, vehicles and other debris have been dumped, and trees, shrubs and invasive
species have grown up enough so that work is needed before the area is able to be utilized again. As is typical of surplus property transactions, the state will be transferring the
area as-is, and any improvements we wish to make will be the responsibility of the Conservation Commission. The entire parcel is considered prime agricultural land, and is located
within the fertile 100-year floodplain of the Connecticut River, and the Conservation and Agricultural Commissions plan to return it to agricultural use and license it for farming.
As part of the transfer agreement, the state will hold an Agricultural Preservation Restriction to ensure that it remains in agricultural use going forward. With a small CPA grant
award, we would like to do all of the work necessary to prepare the parcel for farming. This includes hiring a forester to clear the area, and moving all vehicles and debris. Cost
savings will be looked for wherever possible – these include working with abutters to sell the cultivated spruce trees and remove any items that may belong to them, and seeking volunteer
labor wherever possible. The trees are low-quality and unfortunately have little to no timber value. In the event that any funds remain at the end of the work, they will be returned
to the CPA. We are excited to be acquiring this historic 3 acre parcel and returning it to agricultural use.
2) What Community Preservation criteria – both general and program-area specific – does this project meet?
General Criteria:
The Jail Farm Restoration Program meets several of the CPC general evaluation 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
Due in part to the presence of prime agricultural soils in several parts of the City, Northampton has a strong agricultural heritage. The presence of local farms directly contributes
to our community character and sense of place, as evidenced by the Three County Agricultural Fair; one of the oldest in the nation, and several vibrant farmers’ markets. An absence
of local agriculture would have a negative impact on quality of life.
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
One of the guiding principles of the Sustainable Northampton plan was to “Adopt land use patterns that maintain a mix of urban and rural areas; concentrate development in neighborhood,
village, and commercial centers supported by adequate infrastructure, including public transit; promote energy efficiency; and protect environmental, open space, and agricultural resources.
The future land use map contained in the Plan highlighted
areas to be continually preserved as agriculture, where farming uses should be encouraged, and this area is one of those
Saves resources that would otherwise be threatened
Northampton has a rich agricultural history, and its location on the Connecticut River creates some of the best farming in the northeast. However, between 1985 and 1999, Northampton
lost more than 200 acres of farmland, including this parcel. Many more acres disappeared in the building boom following World War Two. This project will return 3 prime areas to active
agricultural use
Places high value on sustainable, ecologically responsible, energy-conserving structures, locations, and materials; demonstrates that the project minimizes the ecological footprint
Purchasing local food helps promote the local economy, decreases fossil fuels required for food delivery and refrigeration, and helps promote responsible land development. None of these
are possible without local agriculture
Receives endorsement by community groups, municipal boards and/or departments
The application is supported by the Agricultural and Conservation Commissions.
The project meets several of the goals contained in the Open Space Plan:
When farmland is included in larger portions of conservation land, the city should still preserve this farmland and then lease it to farmers for productive use, including grazing land
Contributes to the preservation of Northampton’s unique character, boosts the vitality of the community, and enhances the quality of life for its residents
Open Space Criteria:
Provide flood control/storage
This parcel is located in a floodplain area. Preventing further development here will contribute to future flood control, even if land use regulations should become less strict.
Preserve large strategic tracts of undeveloped land and parcels adjacent to existing permanently protected open space
This area is adjacent to existing protected farmland and other open spaces.
Protect farmland and rich agricultural soils
3) 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 is supported by both the Conservation and Agricultural Committees. It also helps to further the goals of many co farmland protection groups; local, regional, and nationwide
4) What specific guarantees will assure the long-term preservation of the project?
The Agricultural Commission will oversee issuance and oversight of agricultural licenses on this parcel. Tenants in the Meadows are generally not difficult to find due to proximity
of similar farming uses in the area. The state-held APR will require farming to occur on the parcel as well, and periodic visits will confirm active agriculture.
5) What community support does the project have? Explain the nature and level of the support.
The project is supported by the Conservation and Agricultural Commissions, as well as the City Council.
6) How will the success of this project be measured?
Success of the project will be measured by a parcel that is clear and ready to be returned to farming.
7) Is ongoing maintenance and upkeep required? If yes, please explain how this will be accomplished.
Ongoing maintenance needs will be satisfied at no cost to the City through an agricultural license administered by the Agricultural Commission.
8) Explain the various steps of the project and when they will be completed
We are ready to begin as soon as the property is transferred.
9) Provide any additional information you think would be useful in considering your project.
Attachments:
City Council Order authorizing purchase
Survey
Aerial map showing trees and debris