2003 Conservation Commission Executive Session Minutes-RELEASED
Northampton Conservation Commission
Minutes of Executive Session
April 7, 2003
The Northampton Conservation Commission held an Executive Session on Monday,
April 7, 2003, at 8:00 p.m., in Hearing Room 18, City Hall, 210 Main Street,
Northampton, Massachusetts.
Present were Members: Mason Maronn, John Body, Susan Carbin, Mike Reed and
Wendy Sweetser.
Staff: Conservation and Land Use Planner, Gloria McPherson and Planning Director
Wayne Feiden.
At 8:03 P.M. Body moved to go into Executive Session. Carbin seconded. The motion
passed unanimously by roll call vote.
Feiden discussed the potential limited development project on Turkey Hill Road and
changes in the lot layout since his informal presentation to some Commission members
on Monday, March 24, 2003.
Feiden also discussed a conversation he had with John Skibiski, owner of property
adjacent to the Turkey Hill quarry/limited development project site, where Skibiski
offered to sell his parcel to the City for $150,000. Feiden explained that if we were able
to purchase Skibiski’s land, the City would own both sides of Turkey Hill Road to the
Westhampton border and there might be the possibility of formally discontinuing the
road. However, a self-help grant, which could pay for the additional property, would
require a 34% local match, which would not be politically feasible this year.
Feiden discussed another property adjacent to the quarry site, on the south side of Turkey
Hill Road. While Cowls has claimed that it is their property, there is a question of title.
In order to increase the amount of conservation land, there is the possibility of not
disputing the title in return for Cowls placing a Conservation Restriction on the land,
retaining the right to log it in the future.
Feiden discussed a portion of the quarry site which lies in Westhampton and explained
that the City of Northampton would hold a Conservation Restriction on land it aquires in
Westhampton.
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Feiden explained that he would like the Commission’s approval to spend $10,000. of City
money and to access approximately $24,000. in the Valley Land Fund account in order to
leverage other money for the project with the strong hope, but clearly no guarantees, that
both funds would be replenished during the project by the project’s cash flow.
Reed moved to recommend that the City accept the open space and a Conservation
Restriction on land in Westhampton and to use the requested money from the
Conservation fund and the Valley Land Fund. Carbin seconded. The motion passed
unanimously.
The Commission asked to be updated monthly at their working sessions about the Turkey
Hill Road limited development project.
At 8:45 P.M. Body moved to end Executive Session. Reed seconded. The motion passed
unanimously by roll call vote.
Maronn announced to the public that the only purpose of the Executive Session was to
discuss land acquisition.
Northampton Conservation Commission
Minutes of Executive Session
September 11, 2003
The Northampton Conservation Commission held an Executive Session on Thursday,
September 11, 2003, at 8:00 P.M., in Hearing Room 18, City Hall, 210 Main Street,
Northampton, Massachusetts.
Present were Members: Mason Maronn, John Body, Susan Carbin and Wendy Sweetser
Staff: Conservation and Land Use Planner, Gloria McPherson and Planning Director,
Wayne Feiden.
At 8:00, Body moved to go into Executive Session. Carbin seconded. The motion
passed unanimously by roll call vote.
Feiden stated that there were previous discussions over the years about acquiring a
particular piece of land on Coles Meadow Road. The executor of this land recently
approached the city after years of negotiation. One lot of the 3 is a building lot. There
are an additional 8 acres in the back, with a wetland crossing. City is interested in
facilitating the property owner’s efforts to build one house along the street and conserve
the back lot. There are two potential ways of accomplishing this: the City takes the risk
and gets a lower price, or we buy all the backland for $17,000 and City does all the
conservation and planning permitting for a one-lot cluster. Everything in the construction
would be out of the 50-foot buffer.
Feiden explained that the plan is to move the money that was frozen for the acquisition of
the two Gleason lots to buy this parcel.
Body move to reassign an estimated $11,000 for the Gleason property to this project.
Carbin seconded. The motion was approved unanimously.
Feiden presented an additional proposed in-holding acquisition within the Saw Mill Hills
Conservation Area. Sweetser moved to acquire the land in Saw Mill Hills. Carbin
seconded. The motion approved unanimously.
Sweetser moved to come out of the Executive Session. Carbin seconded. The motion
passed unanimously by roll call vote.