HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5208        FILED ON: 7/28/2020

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4917

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Michael J. Finn and James T. Welch

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act authorizing the conveyance of easements and conservation restrictions to watershed lands of the city known as the town of West Springfield.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5208        FILED ON: 7/28/2020

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4917

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act authorizing the conveyance of easements and conservation restrictions to watershed lands of the city known as the town of West Springfield.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.  Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, the town of West Springfield, acting by and through its town council with approval by its mayor, may grant to the commonwealth of Massachusetts, acting by and through its department of conservation and recreation, and to the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Inc. easements and restrictions through a conservation restriction under and with the benefits of sections 31 and 32 of chapter 184 of the general laws in and to all or portions of certain parcels of land owned by the town of West Springfield identified in section 2 below.  Such conservation restriction may be jointly granted to and held by the department and the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Inc.  The grant shall be for conservation and recreational purposes for the general public under article XCVII of the amendments to the constitution of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, including the preservation and protection of water resources, wildlife and native habitats, sustainable forest management, and passive recreational uses.  The property identified in section 2 was acquired for and used previously by the town of West Springfield for watershed and water supply protection purposes.

SECTION 2.  The parcels are identified as follows:

All the lands, including lands under water, located at the Bear Hole reservoir and Paucatuck brook in the town of West Springfield and city of Holyoke identified by the town of West Springfield assessor as map 3, block 1, lot 1, map 3, block 2, lot 1, map 11, block 1, lots 1 and 2, map 18 block 1, lot 1, map 19, block 1, lots 6 and 7, map 25, block 1, lot 1, map 26, block 1, lot 1, map 26, block 2, lot 1, map 27, block 1, lot 1, map 27 block 3, lots 1 and 2, map 27, block 4, lot 1, map 34, block 1, lot 1, map 36, block 1, lots 5, 6 and 10, map 44, block 1, lot 1, map 45, block 1, lots 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, map 53, block 1, lot 1 and map 61, block 1, lots 1 and 2 and identified by the city of Holyoke assessor as map 177, lots 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 respectively, meaning to include without limitation such parcels and the lands and water located within the Bear Hole reservoir and Paucatuck brook watershed areas, however such areas may be described.

SECTION 3.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.