Loading...
DRAFT RFP for Montview agriculture prepared by MCCC Spring 2012.docMONTVIEW CONSERVATION LAND 2012 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS DRAFT We seek an entity to practice agricultural stewardship of the Montview Conservation Land in a manner congruent with proper use of the City of Northampton Conservation Land. The parcel is 3.2 acres located on Montview Avenue (assessors map ID 32C-352), which contains approximately 2 acres of cultivable land, along with a wetland area and a small, public-access playing field (see attached map) <link to map webpage>. Water is not available; parking is extremely limited. The successful entity will be granted a three-year low-cost lease. Preference will be given to local applicants; no community gardens proposals please. NOFA practices are preferred. Submitted proposals must include the following: Statement of purpose Proposed farming plan and map Business plan Brief statement(s) of relevant experience and/or background for each proposal signer(s) Names, addresses and telephone numbers of three farming or business references Name, email address and telephone number for one proposal signer whom the MCCC may contact for questions or additional information during the proposal review process Please refer to the Proposal Guidelines when crafting your proposal. <link to Guidelines webpage> License holder(s) must be prepared to provide the following upon signing the license: Lease payment in the amount of $100.00 per year An escrow account in the amount of $300.00, to be used by the Northampton Conservation Commission if the Lease is terminated for any reason and the property needs to be improved upon or restored Documentation of liability insurance Sealed proposals will be accepted until February 15, 2012. Proposals will be reviewed February 15-29, 2012. During that period, applicants may be invited to present their proposal in person and/or provide additional information. A license to farm will be awarded by March 1, 2012. Submit proposals by mail to: MEADOW CITY CONSERVATION COALITION Jane Potter, President 42 Phillips Pl., Northampton, MA 01060 or by email to: janepotter@comcast.net For questions about the RFP, please contact Claudia Lefko, at iraqichildrensart@verizon.net or (413) 584-0068. The following Proposal Guidelines have been developed and adopted by the Montview Standing Committee and the Meadow City Conservation Coalition, in consultation with the Montview neighborhood residents and wider community. Please refer to these Guidelines when crafting your proposal. PROPOSAL GUIDELINES Montview Conservation Land is located in a densely populated neighborhood on the edge of downtown Northampton. This public land, overseen and managed in accordance with applicable conservation guidelines, has been cultivated as agricultural land, maintained as a natural area around a wetland, and includes a small public-access playing field maintained by the neighborhood. 1. Conservation Conservation is not just a value embraced by the neighborhood, but it is also a mandate associated with the protected status of the property as city conservation land. The license holder(s) should demonstrate that the proposed farming plan will not negatively impact the urban wildlife habitat or open space viewshed provided by the land. Moreover, the license holder(s) will have the legal obligation to conform with regulations applicable to conservation land, including the Memorandum of Understanding between the Conservation Commission of the City of Northampton and the Meadows City Conservation Coalition <link to MOU doc>, and the Land Use Regulations of the Northampton Conservation Commission <link to ConsCom &/or Regulations websites>. 2. Ecologically Conscious Food Production The Montview Standing Committee strongly supports ecologically conscious food production on the land, and thus requests that agricultural activities be guided by NOFA principles. 3. Agricultural and Nature Education The Montview Standing Committee recognizes and appreciates the range of activities inspired by and in response to the land, activities that serve to educate, celebrate, and sustain this property as an important agricultural and natural resource in our community. Any license holder who plans to include projects or events on the land outside of the conservation and agricultural missions will need to seek Montview Standing Committee approval for individual projects/events. 4. Community Building The Montview Standing Committee recognizes that the property, located in a densely populated urban area is, and always has been, a significant aspect of the neighborhood. We expect license holder(s) will develop plans and implement projects in a way that recognizes that the land and the way it is utilized affects the neighborhood and community very directly. The Montview Standing Committee encourages and supports proposals that include possibilities for meaningful interaction and collaboration between the license holder(s), neighbors and the broader community, understanding that this can help create and sustain positive relationships between those entities. Before crafting your proposal, please also consider the following narrative describing the role and preferences of Montview Standing Committee. The Montview Standing Committee is a permanent standing committee of the Meadows City Conservation Coalition, an arrangement that provides the Montview Standing Committee with fiscal sponsorship to allow tax-free donations, among other organizational benefits. The mission of the Montview Standing Committee is to monitor the stewardship of the Montview Conservation Land according to the guidelines of the Montview Standing Committee (including farming, land maintenance, adherence to the lease terms and laws governing Massachusetts conservation guidelines) and to provide a strong link between the license holder(s) and the wider community. Thus, license holder(s) must: send at least one representative to meet with the Montview Standing Committee at least four times per year; send at least one representative to a wider community meeting (organized by the Montview Standing Committee) at least once per year; respond in a timely way to concerns and input communicated by phone or email. Of particular concern for the neighborhood is the negative impact on the land and surrounding community of frequent use by large numbers of people. The license holder(s) and the Montview Standing Committee will develop guidelines for scheduling events, with special emphasis on vehicular traffic, publicity, and the purpose of the events. These guidelines will become a formal agreement, along with a mandate that deviation from the guidelines must be approved by both organizations. (Separate guidelines for scheduled events at the playing field appear below.) Particulars of the land: The lease will pertain to the entire parcel of land, thus preference will go to proposals that arrange to take responsibility for all 3.2 acres, including that currently not under cultivation. This includes keeping down the growth of wild vegetation, especially invasive species and fast-growing trees like sumac. If needed, the Montview Standing Committee will work together with the license holder(s) to develop a reasonable plan for collaborating to meet these goals. The area known as the "Playing Field" on the southeast corner of the land (shaded yellow on the plot map) <link to map webpage> will remain under the management of the neighborhood. The neighborhood will continue to be responsible for mowing the field, and the Montview Standing Committee will be in charge of deciding what types of scheduled events will occur there, as described in "Approval Process for Scheduled Events at the Montview Neighborhood Playing Field" (approved in an open community meeting, 17 July 2011). We expect that the license holder(s) will preserve a buffer around the playing field so as to mitigate any unintentional harm to agricultural activities that may arise from stray balls, Frisbees, etc. Recognizing that the Montview Conservation Land is public property, the license holder(s) should accommodate public access with the thoughtful maintenance of paths. Miscellaneous: It is the sovereign responsibility of the new license holding entity to determine its organization. However, the community as a whole has a strong interest in its success including that: all primary conservation commitments of the land are being upheld; there is a clear decision-making structure to handle differences of opinion; and there is a clear and formalized plan for meeting with the Montview Standing Committee and wider community.