MDAR Notice of Proposed APR Acquisition - Omasta FarmT H E C O MM O N W EA LT H O F M AS S A C HU S ET T S
E XECUTIVE O FFICE O F E NERGY A ND E NVIRONMENTAL A FFAIRS
Departm ent of Agr icultur al Resources
251 Causeway Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02114
617-626-1700 fax: 617-626-1850 www.mass.gov/agr
CHARLES D. BAKER
Governor
KARYN E. POLITO
Lt. Governor
KATHLEEN A. THEOHARIES
Secretary
JOHN LEBEAUX
Commissioner
November 2, 2020
City Council
City Hall
210 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01096
Re: APR Project Name: Omasta, John P. and Faye., Project ID # 20B02
As required by General Laws Chapter 7C, Section 37, enclosed please find:
1) A “NOTICE OF PROPOSED ACQUISITION”, commonly known as the “120 Day Notice”, informing you
that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, acting through its Department of Agricultural Resources (“MDAR”),
proposes to purchase an Agricultural Preservation Restriction (“APR”) on farmland in your municipality as
described in the enclosed Notice. The return receipt attached to this packet will confirm that you have received
this notice.
2) A “CONFIRMATION OF NOTICE” on this project. We ask that you (1) post and/or publish this NOTICE,
and (2) hold a public announcement at which the NOTICE OF PROPOSED ACQUISITION is read into the
record. This can be at a regular Select Board or City Council meeting, or at another public meeting for which
standard legal notice was given. Please understand that the municipality need not take any action or vote
concerning the acquisition - the announcement is for informational purposes only.
3) A “CERTIFICATE OF NOTICE” that following said adequate notice, the hearing/public announcement
mandated by Section 37 has been held within the Municipality not later than 120 days prior to the planned
acquisition. Once the meeting has been held, please complete and return the enclosed signed “Certificate of
Notice”. The date that you certify for the announcement starts the minimum 120-day (4-month) clock for closing
on the APR.
4) A “CONSENT TO REDUCTION OF NOTICE PERIOD” for this project. The law also allows for reduction of
the notification period if the local public officials and legislators so agree. Because of MDAR's priority
classification of this farmland for protection, we ask that your municipality agree to reduce the 120 day notification
period to 60 days to expedite the process. The closing for this project is a time-sensitive matter, and your
cooperation in this request is very much appreciated by the Department.
If you have any question regarding this proposed acquisition, I can be contacted at 413-726-2002. Thank you for
your assistance.
Sincerely,
Ronal A. Hall
APR Acquisition Coordinator
Cc: Dorothy Du, APR Program Administrator
Project name: Omasta, John P. and Faye
Project ID#: 20B02
Page 2 of 4
NOTICE OF PROPOSED ACQUISITION
OF AN AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION RESTRICTION
ON PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF NORTHAMPTON
Date of this Notice: November 2, 2020
In compliance with G. L. c. 7C, Section 37, the Commonwealth Massachusetts, acting by and through its
Department of Agricultural Resources (the “Department”), hereby gives notice that it proposes to acquire an
agricultural preservation restriction (“APR”) on the real property identified herein for the purpose of protecting in
perpetuity its superior and productive agricultural resources by preventing their conversion to other uses.
The application received by MDAR indicates that the property is owned by John P. and Faye Omasta and consists
of parcel (s) located at West Farm Road in Northampton as approximately represented on the attached map.
The APR may encompass all or parts of the area shown.
The current use of the property is primarily for hay, pasture and small scale forest products.
Following the recording of the APR, the use of the subject property is limited to agricultural use as more
particularly set forth in the APR document, the General Laws [Chapter 184, Sections 31], and the Regulations of
the Department [330 CMR 22.00 et seq].
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, by:
______________________________________________
Ronald A. Hall, APR Acquisition Coordinator
Notice of proposed acquisition is hereby given to:
( ) Chairman of the Board of Selectmen of the Town of , or
( X ) Mayor or City Manager of the City of Northampton
Separate notice will be given by the Department to the appropriate: County Commissioners,
Regional Planning Agency, and the members of the General Court representing the district in
which the land is located.
Project name: Omasta, John P. and Faye
Project ID#: 20B02
Page 3 of 4
CONFIRMATION OF NOTICE
REGARDING PROPOSED ACQUISITION
OF AN AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION RESTRICTION
In compliance with the G. L. c. 7C, Section 37, notice is hereby given that an announcement at a public meeting
was held for the purpose of disclosing the conditions or reasons supporting the Commonwealth’s proposed
acquisition of an agricultural preservation restriction (“APR”) on certain property in the Municipality of
Northampton as more particularly described in the attached NOTICE OF PROPOSED ACQUISITION.
CERTIFICATE OF NOTICE
I certify that this Confirmation of Notice Regarding Proposed Acquisition of an Agricultural Preservation
Restriction was posted or published in the following manner:
I further certify that an announcement was held at the place, date, and time indicated in this Notice.
x___________________________________________
(name and title: )
Please complete this form and return to:
Ronald A. Hall
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
138 Memorial Drive, Suite 42
West Springfield, MA 01089
The date, time, and place of the hearing are as follows:
Date: __________________
Time: ____________________
Place: _______________________________________________________________
Project name: Omasta, John P. and Faye
Project ID#: 20B02
Page 4 of 4
CONSENT TO REDUCTION OF NOTICE PERIOD
APR Project Name: Omasta John P. and Faye, Project ID# 20B02
As authorized by the Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 7C, Section 37, the undersigned and duly authorized
representative(s) of the City of Northampton do hereby consent to a reduction of the 120 day notice period
prescribed for the announcement at a public meeting on the Commonwealth’s proposed acquisition of an
Agricultural Preservation Restriction referenced above to not less than 60 days.
Date: ___________________
_______________________________ ______________________ ____________________
Signature Name Title
_______________________________ _______________________ ____________________
Signature Name Title
_______________________________ _______________________ ____________________
Signature Name Title
_______________________________ _______________________ ____________________
Signature Name Title
_______________________________ _______________________ ____________________
Signature Name Title
Additional signatures are required for a 60 day Waiver from legislators and Regional Planning Agencies. MDAR
will attain those additional approvals.
Please complete this form and return to:
Ronald A. Hall
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
138 Memorial Drive, Suite 42
West Springfield, MA 01089