RockyHillGreenway-Verillo-PineGrove-City-Council-ORDER-WF5-24-2019City of Northampton
Massachusetts
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In City Council, June 6, 2019
Upon the recommendation of Mayor David J. Narkewicz, Planning & Sustainability, and the Conservation Commission
Ordered, thatWHEREAS,The Open Space, Recreation and Multiuse Trail Plan: 2018-2025recommends “preserving ecologically valuable land and filling gaps at … Rocky Hill Greenway”; WHEREAS,The
City has an option to purchase approximately 100 acres at the Pine Grove Golf Course to restore its natural ecological functioning, improve the riparian (river-edge) habitat that feeds
the Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, and expand the adjacent Rocky Hill Greenway; WHEREAS, The seller is retaining land to expand one building lot and create three new building lots, achieving
the Open Space Plan recommendation of creating new lots to avoid open space from artificially inflating the cost of building lots in Northampton; andWHEREAS, The City is partnering with
the Massachusetts Audubon Society and the Kestrel Land Trust and one or both organizations will hold the required conservation restriction and management easements at no cost to the
City;Ordered, that
The Conservation Commission is authorized to purchase or otherwise acquire for conservation and passive recreation purposes, as provided by MGL Chapter 40, §8C, any fee, easement or
conservation restriction as defined in MGL Chapter 184, §31 or any other interest in the above land and any immediately adjoining land; that the City Council hereby accepts such conservation
restrictions; that the Conservation Commission is authorized to grant conservation restrictions and related easements on any land so acquired; and that the Conservation Commission is
authorized to contract for and expend any federal, state, or other aid available for this project, including any grant from the Division of Conservation Services of the Executive Office
of Energy and Environmental Affairs, under the LAND/Self-Help Act, MGL Chapter 132A, §11,with such related restrictions and agreements as the City determines are agreeable;
Further that $650,000 is appropriated for such acquisition; that to meet this appropriation the Treasurer with the approval of the Mayor is authorized to borrow $650,000 under MGL c.44,
§7(3); and that the Conservation Commission is authorized to contract for any federal, state, or other aid available for this project, including any grant from the Division of Conservation
Services of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, under the LAND Self-Help Act, Chapter 132A, §11 of the General Laws;
Further that any grants, donations, or sales shall be used to reimburse open space funds used for the purchase.