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CPC questions Fall 2017 grant roundOctober 2, 2017 Dear Community Preservation Committee, You asked several questions regarding the CPA applications that my office has prepared on behalf of the City and the Northampton Conservation Commission. Conservation Fund Are there any currently known needs for these funds?  Are there any prospects with a good likelihood of maturing in the near future? We expect several uses for these funds: The Community Preservation Act requires place conservation restrictions on land purchased with CPA funds. A little over half our ask is the cost of catching up with these required conservation restrictions. We would use the rest of the funds for parcels that are under active negotiation and/or properties owned by estates that require “friendly” takings. We expect to expend all of the remaining funds, if granted, within a short time. What is the balance of the current fund? All past conservation funds have been fully expended and there are no funds left.   Rail Trail What provisions have been made for maintenance of the existing trails. We use an active volunteer adopter program for trash pickup. Planning staff maintains signs and wayfinding. Public Works does other routine maintenance (e.g., mowing). Could you clarify how those at the VA facility will gain access to the ramp? There are very heavy desire lines (well worn paths that people use to walk) from the path to the very small commercial center of Leeds that are heavily used by residents of the VA. Two years ago we were able to address half of these lines, VA to the bicycle path. There is the second half of the equation, from the trail into the commercial area. Given limited CPC funding, which of these two projects is the highest priority? Completing the trail up to the Haydenville line. However, since CPA funds would match other funds, it might depending on which of some pending grant applications we are awarded. What happens to the bike trail at the Northampton/Haydenville line? We have already made drainage improvement several hundred feet into Haydenville and the town has already made an access ramp from the end of that work down to South Main Street. Williamsburg was just awarded a $50,000 grant and plans to improve the trail on their side of the town line.   Mineral Hills and Rocky Hill Addition Given limited CPC funding, which of these two projects is the highest priority? Both projects are critically important. Rocky Hill already has matching funds from the Massachusetts Audubon Society and is more important ecologically. Mineral Hills, assuming we get the requested state grant, is a one-time opportunity and is more important from a heritage perspective and a human walking trail perspective.