Combined Acquisition Application.pdfCritical Open Space Acquisitions 1
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION PROJECT APPLICATION COVER SHEET
I: Project Information
Project Title: Critical Open Space Acquisitions – Mineral Hills, Rocky Hill and Beaver
Brook Greenways
Project Summary: CPA Funding is sought to acquire four parcels totaling 85 +/-
acres to add to the Mineral Hills, Rocky Hill and Beaver Brook Greenways. These
parcels will meet a variety of needs; providing wildlife habitat, trail connection and
educational opportunities, safe parking access, and ledge overlooks.
Estimated start and completion date: 2019-2020
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): Several private owners with which the city is ready to
move forward to purchase
Organization (if applicable): Northampton Conservation Commission and Office of
Planning and Sustainability
Mailing Address: City Hall, 210 Main Street, Second Floor
Daytime phone #: 413-587-1265 Fax #: 413-587-1264
E-mail address: wfeiden@northamptonma.gov
III: Budget Summary
Total budget for project: $181,000
CPA funding request: $161,000
CPA request as percentage of total budget: 89.4%
Applicant’s Signature:
Date Submitted: January 24, 2019
_______________________
Critical Open Space Acquisitions 2
Parcel Information
West Farms Road, west side
Mineral Hills
Acres: 20
Parcel ID’s: 41-020
Current Owner: John Omasta
The area is located along the side slopes of one of the southernmost knobs in the
Mineral Hills. These hills are the erosional remnants of once-great mountains that
formed roughly 450 million years ago and are composed of metamorphic rocks with
igneous intrusions. These sediments were deposited 15,000-12,400 years ago, during
the time of glacial Lake Hitchcock, when glacially-charged rivers and streams deposited
vast amounts of sand and gravel around this knob and created extensive outwash
plains that stretched from here to Florence and into Easthampton.
Even though it lies more than four miles from the center of Northampton, this part of
town attracted attention early on in the City’s history. In 1685, Robert Lyman of
Northampton discovered lead in the form of galena along an outcrop near the Manhan
River. The site lay just a few hundred yards downstream from the current conservation
area, and for the next two centuries various mining companies worked the claim. Other
nearby sites were also explored for minerals, and although none of them were very
successful, the region became known as the Mineral Hills. Like most of Northampton
and Massachusetts, this area was probably completely cleared by the early 1800s—
partly to feed the nearby sawmills, partly to feed the home fires, and partly to create
pasture for sheep and cows. Now, it is dominated by deciduous hardwoods and a few
patches of hemlock and white pine, as well as wet meadows and remnants of
pastureland. This parcel includes a rock ledge with views to the south and east, and
directly abuts existing recently-acquired conservation land that includes trails and rich and diverse wildlife habitat. The City is also working with the owner and Kestrel Land
Trust to place the eastern, actively-farmed portion of this property into the Agricultural
Preservation Restriction Program, which the wooded upland segment will abut when the
acquisition is complete. This parcel also serves as a portion of the planned north-south
Mineral Hills off-road connector, which brings together a large wooded tract between
Route 66 and Chesterfield Road, and eventually Williamsburg to the north and
Easthampton to the south.
Glendale Road, west side
Mineral Hills
Acres: 19.05
Parcel ID’s: 49-004
Current Owner: Waggin’ Trails Dog Park LLC
This parcel is required to be permanently protected as part of the permit provisions for
cluster development for the Waggin’ Trails Dog Park, which will occupy the eastern
Critical Open Space Acquisitions 3
portion of this property. The very low per-acre purchase price represents the difference
between City ownership, and the required permanent conservation restriction on a
portion of this property. Holding fee to the property is important in this case because
the parcel connects to two existing open space areas, and connection between them
and towards Easthampton to the south can provide permanent public access moving
forward that would not necessarily be possible if the land were only protected from
future development. Having full title will provide the City with the ability to create and
manage trails, improve habitat, and control invasive plant species. The soils are sandy
and acidic which provide excellent habitat for native turtles, and observations of rare
plants and butterflies have been made by local naturalists.
Easthampton Road
Rocky Hill Greenway
Acres: 1.58
Parcel ID’s: 44-027
Current Owner: Open & Shut, LLC
This parcel was purchased by the current owner with the intention of a commercial
development. Wetland conditions
have expanded over the years and
while the parcel could still support
some development, it is no longer the
right place for the type of business
that was initially planned. It is being
offered to the City at less than half of
the most recent purchase price. The
parcel is a significant inholding and
frontage parcel within the Rocky Hill
Greenway, and is surrounded on three
sides by existing protected open space
and the Manhan Rail Trail. Informal
parking and emergency access to the
Manhan Rail Trail is currently located
on the northwestern side of the bridge over Route 10. This area is part of the National
Grid and MassDOT rights-of-way, and access could be limited or prohibited at any time.
Acquisition of this parcel, which is just south of the bridge, would allow the City to
establish a formal, permanent parking and access point to this popular section of trail.
Massachusetts Audubon Society has agreed to contribute $5,000 towards this purchase
and the hold the required conservation restriction with no legal or stewardship costs to
the City (a savings of an additional $7,000).
Existing informal trail
access
Critical Open Space Acquisitions 4
Between Haydenville Road and River Road
Beaver Brook Greenway
Acres: 44.7
Parcel ID’s: 06-008
Current Owner: Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield
This area is the rear portion of St. Mary’s Cemetery. It includes a certified vernal pool,
a quarter mile of frontage along Beaver Brook, wetlands and buffer zones, and priority
habitat of rare and endangered species. It would be difficult for the Cemetery to
expand into environmentally sensitive areas, but the area to which the purchase
agreement extends also includes significant upland. The area to be acquired abuts the
MassCentral Rail Trail for a quarter mile along its western boundary, as well as the
Beaver Brook Conservation Restriction to the south.
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
Part of Northampton’s character is the amount and diverse types of open space
and recreation opportunities available throughout the City. These acquisitions
will create a new opportunities for public access to areas where it is currently
limited, further a goal of the Open Space Plan to develop a ONE Northampton
loop trail around the City, and protect ecologically sensitive areas.
Addresses recommendations contained in the Sustainable Northampton comprehensive
plan and/or the Open Space, Recreation, and Mixed Use Trail Plan or is consistent with
other city-wide planning efforts that have received broad-based scrutiny and input and
can demonstrate wide community support
The project will also address several of ‘the most pressing open space and recreation
needs’ identified in the Open Space Plan. These are:
• Passive recreation opportunities throughout the city
• Linkage and augmentation of open space parcels, to provide for passive
recreation and wildlife movement between large natural habitat areas.
• Protection of vistas and “viewsheds.”
• Acquisition for permanent protection of a range of critical and natural plant and
animal habitats, including:
• Wetlands
• Rare or endangered species habitat
• Riparian lands along the Connecticut, Mill, and Manhan Rivers and other
rivers and major streams
Critical Open Space Acquisitions 5
• Preservation of open space parcels that help define Northampton’s character,
including parcels at the “entrances” to the city and parcels that limit the
expansion of development into previously rural areas.
• Protection of farmland, forestland, and the rural character of outlying areas.
• Encouraging or requiring that development is sensitive to ecological resources,
vistas, and open space.
• Protection of key parcels in the last remaining large undeveloped areas of town –
Broad Brook and Beaver Brook Watersheds, Marble Brook Watershed, Saw Mill
Hills, Mineral Hills, and the Meadows
• Creation of a ONE Northampton Trail that encircles the City
Saves resources that would otherwise be threatened
The Rocky Hill and Beaver Brook Greenway parcels will likely be developed if not
not permanently protected. A portion of the Waggin’ Trails parcel will be
permanently protected when the dog park moves forward, but if the difference in
cost between a restriction and full ownership is not provided, the City will lose an
important trail connection and only a portion of the land would be protected.
The West Farms parcel may also be ultimately protected, but public access could
be eliminated.
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
There are very few funding opportunities available for protection of smaller, less
expensive parcels. Each represents a significant opportunity, but CPA funds are
the only source available at this time, other than the $11,000 donation ($5,000
cash and $6,000 conservation restriction stewardship avoided cost). The Office
of Planning and Sustainability commits all staff time necessary to prepare
conservation restrictions, oversee acquisitions, inspect the properties prior to
acquisition, and prepare baseline documentation reports.
Can be implemented expeditiously and within budget
Each acquisition is at a different stage. Three are ready to close as soon as we
receive funding. One (the Catholic Church property) will take a little longer, but
we expect we will be ready to close in 2019 or early 2020.
The Project also meets several of the Open Space Evaluation Criteria:
Preserve valuable surface water resources, including rivers, streams, lakes, ponds,
wetlands, buffer zones, vernal pools and riparian zones
Provide opportunities for passive recreation and environmental education
Critical Open Space Acquisitions 6
Preserve large strategic tracts of undeveloped land and parcels adjacent to existing
permanently protected open space
Promote the creative use of former railway, waterways and other corridors, including
connecting corridors, to create safe and healthful non-motorized transportation and
exercise opportunities
Community Need/Protections/Project Feasibility and Success
The project will protect sensitive ecological resources, land for passive recreation, and
historic landscapes. All of these resources are identified as priorities in the Open Space
and Recreation Plan.
Permanent conservation restrictions will be placed on all properties once acquired.
Project Budget:
Project Why Unique Acres
Purchase
Price
Soft
Cost
CPA
Request
Mineral Hills
Greenway Extremely low per acre price 19.1 $11,000 $2,000 $13,000
Rocky Hill
Greenway
Key frontage and access to Manhan
rail trail 1.7 $50,000 $5,000 $50,000
Beaver Brook
Greenway
Key connection for future
Northampton ONE trail 44.7 $65,000 $6,000 $71,000
Mineral Hills
Greenway
Rock outcroppings, connection to
adjacent protected land 20.0 $24,000 $3,000 $27,000
MATCH: Staff Time for CRs and CR-related costs and
MassAudubon contributions $20,000
TOTAL $161,000
ATTACHMENTS:
Maps
Parcel ID 41 -020
Parcel ID 49 -004
Parcel ID: 06 -008
Parcel ID 44 -027UV66
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subject area
Permanent Open Space
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Mineral HillsConservationArea
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Parcel ID 41 -02019.7 acres
ArcadiaWildlifeSanctuary
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Rocky HillGreenway
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Parcel ID 44 -0271.58 acres
Mineral HillsConservation Area
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Parcel ID 49 -004remaining land
19.05 acres portion ofParcel ID 49 -004
Parcel ID: 06 -008
Parcel ID: 06 -008remaining land
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