AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CONVEY AND ACQUIRE CERTAIN PARCELS OF LAND IN THE CITY OF BEVERLY.
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to forthwith to authorize certain land transactions in the city of Beverly, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
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 general or special law to the contrary, except as specifically provided in this act, the secretary of transportation may convey on behalf of and in consultation with the administrator of the division of highways, in this act called the highway administrator, by deed, to CEA Beverly, LLC, a Massachusetts limited liability company, in this act called the developer, title to certain parcels of land designated as Parcels #1 and #3, owned by the commonwealth in the city of Beverly containing 159,744 square feet more or less (3.6672+/- acres) and shown on a plan entitled "Massachusetts Department of Transportation Plan of Land in Beverly, MA, Essex County", prepared by Hancock Associates, dated September 12, 2013, to be recorded, in this act called the land disposition plan, for purposes consistent with any applicable zoning ordinance of the city of Beverly. The conveyance shall be contingent upon the parcels being determined to be surplus land by the assistant secretary of transportation, office of real estate and asset development, in this act called the assistant secretary for real estate, in consultation with the highway administrator, pursuant to section 7E of chapter 81 of the General Laws. The conveyance shall not occur until the developer certifies to the assistant secretary for real estate, that all major state and local permits, approvals and such other entitlements that may be necessary and required have been obtained and secured, to enable retail development on the parcels described in this section. The conveyance shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the assistant secretary for real estate may prescribe in consideration for the parcels of land that may be acquired from the developer as described in section 2. This conveyance shall not be subject to section 20 of chapter 6C of the General Laws.
SECTION 2. In consideration for the conveyances authorized in section 1, the developer shall convey by deed to the assistant secretary for real estate, and the assistant secretary for real estate may acquire on behalf of the highway administrator and the division of highways for highway purposes required by public necessity and convenience, as partial consideration for the transfer provided in section 1 and on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the assistant secretary for real estate, title to certain parcels of land designated as Parcel #2, as shown on the land disposition plan, owned by the developer in the city of Beverly, containing 124,920 square feet more or less (2.8678+/- acres). The division of highways shall have the sole responsibility for the management and maintenance of Parcel 2 once conveyed by the developer to the assistant secretary for real estate. The conveyance shall not be subject to section 43 of chapter 6C of the General Laws.
SECTION 3. The developer shall pay to the assistant secretary for real estate for and on behalf of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation such consideration as may be required and determined by the assistant secretary for real estate based upon an independent professional appraisal performed by a duly qualified appraiser licensed in the commonwealth and holding the designation member of the appraisal institute, the difference, if any, between the full and fair market value of the parcels conveyed under section 1 and the full and fair market value of the parcels conveyed under section 2. Upon the effective date of this act, unless the appraisal process has otherwise commenced, the assistant secretary for real estate shall initiate an independent appraisal of the parcels described in said sections 1 and 2.
SECTION 4. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the inspector general shall review and approve any appraisals required pursuant to section 3. The inspector general shall prepare a report of its review of the methodology utilized for the appraisals and shall file the report with the state secretary, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the house and senate committees on bonding, capital expenditures and state assets. Thirty days before the execution of a deed for any conveyance authorized by this act or any subsequent amendment thereto, the state secretary shall submit the proposed deed or amendment and a report thereon to the inspector general for review and comment. The inspector general shall issue such review and comment within 15 days after receipt of the proposed deed or amendment. The secretary shall submit the proposed deed or amendment and the reports and any comments of the inspector general to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the house and senate committees on bonding, capital expenditures and state assets at least 15 days before the execution of the deed or any amendments.
SECTION 5. The developer shall be responsible for all costs associated with the conveyance of the parcels described in sections 1 and 2 including, but not limited to, the costs of preparation of the land disposition plan, the appraisals and preparation of the purchase agreements and deeds, all recording and legal costs and the costs of obtaining all state and local permits, approvals and such other entitlements which may be necessary or required as set forth in said section 1, and any other expenses incurred by the commonwealth in connection with the conveyances authorized in this act.
SECTION 6. The developer shall cause to have a copy of the land disposition plan be provided to the assistant secretary of real estate and to the chief engineer of the division of highways both of whom shall keep the plan on file. The developer shall cause to have a copy of the land disposition plan provided to the city of Beverly. The land disposition plan shall be referenced in the deeds for the parcels described in sections 1 and 2 and, at the time of conveyance, the developer shall record the land disposition plan, together with the deeds, in the Essex south district registry of deeds.
SECTION 7. The developer and its servants, agents and employees shall indemnify and hold the commonwealth and the city of Beverly harmless from and against all claims, actions, damages and costs claimed for injuries or damages to persons or property arising out of or in any way relating to the conveyances authorized in this act and shall defend the commonwealth and its servants, agents and employees from all such claims, actions, damages and costs.
Approved, November 26, 2013.