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Conservation Fund Application.pdfConservation Fund CPA Application 1 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. $80,000 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: Summer 2016 Estimated completion date: Summer 2017 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: $80,000 CPA funding request: $80,000 CPA request as percentage of total budget: 100% Applicant’s Signature: __________ Date Submitted: February 8, 2016________________ Conservation Fund CPA Application 2 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. The CPA has generously funded the Conservation Fund nine times, and these awards have helped make protection of hundreds of acres of open space a reality. All of the funding awards through 2016 except the final award have been closed out, and the most recent award has only $2,040 remaining. There 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, 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 The Fund has been used to protect key parcels identified in the updated 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 Sustainability. Leverages additional public and/or private funds, or demonstrates that other funding sources are not readily available or sufficient Conservation Fund CPA Application 3 Spending from the Conservation Fund is typically accompanied by leveraging from grant or other funds Can be implemented expeditiously and within budget 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. Advances a Public Purpose Permanent protection of open spaces for future recreational opportunities and habitat is one of the key missions of the Conservation Commission and will have an impact not only for current residents, but future generations. 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: $80,000 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. Conservation Fund CPA Application 4 Attachments: Annual Report Support Letters to be provided as received     TO:  Community Preservation Committee  FROM:  Wayne Feiden, FAICP, Director of Planning and Sustainability  RE:  Conservation Fund 2015 Annual Report  DATE:  February 10, 2016  Thank you for the study funding of the CPA Conservation Fund.  Although collectively this has  been a significant CPA investment, most of the individual expenditures are relatively small.  This  fund has allowed us to move quickly on land purchasing and financial leveraging opportunities  that often would otherwise be lost.    In the past, the CPC asked us to present our conservation fund summary to cover all the  Conservation Funds CPA has funded.  As a result, this report covers all CPA funded Conservation  Fund projects up to today.  The CPA tracking spreadsheets show each charge, if you want that.    The final funds in the Conservation Fund are encumbered and will fund the Broad Brook and  Saw Mill Hills conservation restriction closings costs that     Open Space Preservation Project    Acres CPA share Leveraged  Projects encumbering remaining CPA Conservation Funds  Conservation restrictions for 2013‐2015 Broad Brook and  Saw Mill Hills CPA parcels*  Soft costs  5*$12,166 $0 Projects November 2014‐December 2015  LaValley, Saw Mil Hills  Land acquisition  17 $17,300 $0 Ksiniewicz, Historic Mill River  Soft costs (MAS donating CR stewardship and legal costs)  3.31 $3,480 $6,000 Steidler, Saw Mill Hills  Soft costs (land donated in lieu of back taxes)  4.9 $275 $4,900 Zewski, Rocky Hill Greenway*  Soft costs (closing on land in March 2016, MAS donating CR  stewardship and legal costs and environmental assessment)  1.0*$5,195 $12,000 Derouin, Broad Brook*  Soft costs  1.0*$5,365 $0 Open Space Preservation Project    Acres CPA share Leveraged  Connecticut River Greenway CR  Soft costs (required as CPA project‐ Friends of N’Hampton  Recreation accepted CR for $5,000 below market)  $200 $5,000 Golash, Conte Fish and Wildlife Refuge  soft costs (land donated in lieu of back taxes)  0.25 $125 $2,000 Dostal APR, Park Hill APRs  Acquisition and soft costs  1.14 $1,570 $0 Baye APR*  Soft costs (APR from separate CPA APR account)  0.5 $700 $0 Reutener, Mineral Hills*  Soft costs (purchase from separate CPA grant & donations)  1*$1,550 $0 Hayssen, Stone Ridge Pond  Soft costs  1.29 $200 $4,000 Hewes, Rocky Hill Greenway*  Soft costs (purchase from separate CPA grant & donations)  5*$20,530 $0 Vollinger, Broad Brook*  Soft costs (purchase from CPA grant & donations)  1*$1,815 $0 McKown, Broad Brook   Land acquisition, soft costs  12.1 $10,044 $3,000 Totals through November 2014 to December 2015 55.7***$80,513 $36,900 Projects through October 2014  Bosworth purchase: Mineral Hills Conservation Area  Leveraged other purchases Saw Mill Hills & Meadows  Land acquisition, soft costs  15 $10,000 $20,000 Bean Farm: Mill River Greenway  Use of funds for deposit, funds then refunded  2 $0 $47,500  Bleiman: Meadows Conservation Area  Soft costs  10 $8,927 $13,000  360 N. King: Broad Brook‐Fitzgerald Lake Greenway  Land acquisition and soft costs  12 $23,410 $55,000 Beaver Brook Conservation Area*  Soft costs  2 $10,434 $10,000 Zimmerman CR: Broad Brook‐Fitzgerald Lake Greenway  Land acquisition and soft costs  36 $19,475 $10,000 Beaver Brook Arch Bridge: Mill River Greenway  Land acquisition and soft costs  4 $24,243 $14,562   Norwottuck Rail Trail extension ROW  Soft costs  2 $1,145 $5,000 West: Saw Mill Hills Conservation Area*  Land acquisition and soft costs  18 $9,195 $6,000 James: Venturers’ Field Road APR: Meadows Conservation  Soft costs  5 $171 $5,000 Open Space Preservation Project    Acres CPA share Leveraged  Turkey Hill: Mineral Hills Cons. Area*  Soft costs  1 $3,500 $6,000   Lane: Connecticut River Greenway cons. & recreation*  Soft costs  3 $2,973 $50,000 Main Street/Leeds: Mill River Greenway  Soft costs  2 $22,700 $37,500 Boy Scout Island area: Conn. River Greenway  Land acquisition and soft costs (50% interest in 26 acres=13)  13 $11,500 $5,500 Girl Scouts (I) Broad Brook‐Fitzgerald Lake Greenway  Land acquisition and soft costs  23 $21,523 $8,000 Bean Allard/Mill River Greenway and Community Garden*  Soft costs  2 $198 $1,100 Ryan Rd/Sylvester Road: Saw Mill Hills Cons. Area  Land acquisition and soft costs  22 $13,755 $15,000 Skibiski purchase: Mineral Hills Conservation Area*  Soft costs  1 $1,309 $500 Ward Ave: Mill River Greenway  Soft costs  .1 $6,807 $500 Kestrel Trust Conservation Restrictions**    (two transactions to catch up with five years of CPA)  $45,000 $10,000 Sullivan: Broad Brook‐Fitzgerald Lake Greenway  Land acquisition and soft costs  2 $20,617 $5,000 Bookends: Mineral Hills*  Soft costs  $6,695 $2,000 Girl Scouts II: Broad Brook‐Fitzgerald Lake Greenway  Land acquisition and soft costs  17  $20,900 $4,000  Forest Legacy: Broad Brook‐Fitzgerald Lake Greenway  Land acquisition and soft costs  36 $14,132 $9,000 Chatfield Conservation Restriction: Mill River Greenway  Soft costs  $1,846 $6,000 Gonski: Historic Mill River Greenway  Land acquisition and soft costs (50% interest in 20 acres=10)  10 $12,633 $2,500 Dike Road closure: Historic Mill River Greenway  Soft costs  $75 $5,000 Pomeroy Terrace: Meadows Conservation Area   Soft costs  5 $4,825 $10,000 Broad Brook Gap (Vollinger, Gleason and Kubosiak): Broad  Brook‐Fitzgerald Lake Greenway*  Land acquisition and soft costs  7 $7,347 $11,000 Turkey Hill Road discontinuance: Mineral Hills Cons. Area 2 $375 $1,000 Hatfield Road: Connecticut River Greenway   Soft costs  6 $3,500 $13,000 Open Space Preservation Project    Acres CPA share Leveraged  Jail Farm: Meadows Conservation Area (future closing)  Soft costs  $325 $1,000 Jasinski Agriculture Preservation Restriction: Meadows*  Soft costs  4 $1,622 $1,000 Burke CR: Park Hill/Parsons Brook complex  Land acquisition and soft costs  19.5 $9,650 $2,000 Rothenberg: Broad Brook Greenway/Fitzgerald Lake  Land acquisition and soft costs  9 $11,198 $4,000 Szymanski: Saw Mill Hills*  Soft costs  1 $2,820 $1,670 Florence Conservation Area expansion*  Soft costs  1 $125 $5,000 Parcel D: Northampton State Hospital APR  Soft costs  36 $119 $72,000 Hewes: Rocky Hill Conservation Area  Soft costs  0.5 $225 $500 Reutener: Saw Mill Hills Conservation Area*  Soft costs  2 $2,475 $1,000 Three Dike Road parcels (Atwood closed): Historic Mill River  Greenway*  Soft costs  2 $6,840 $2,000 Hayssen: Brookwood Marsh Conservation Area 0.5 $150 $500 McKown: Broad Brook Greenway 4 $2,321 $1,000 Totals through October 2014 3,357***$346,355 $502,832 NOTES:  Costs are approximate because some valuations are very difficult, especially when soft costs and/or bargain sales  leverages donations of all or part of the value of land.  This is not a formal accounting of expenses, which is available in the  CPA spreadsheets)  *To avoid double‐counting for projects with other CPA funding, this table assigns the acreage directly attributable to the  Conservation Fund investment or funding based on the Conservation Fund pro‐rata share of the project.  Given that the  Conservation Fund makes these projects possible, we could claim a much higher credit  **CPA‐required conservation restrictions as a result of DOR withdrawing their opinion letter are charged here, not to  specifically funded CPA projects, which significantly increased the cost per acre.  ***This does not include projects funded as separate CPA projects outside of the Conservation Fund.