AMHERST — A South Amherst golf course where a 26-acre solar project is in the stages of being permitted will be sold to the town to protect a valuable habitat, provide open space for residents and create other potential uses, such as land for a new senior center.
Assistant Town Manager David Ziomek told the Town Council Monday that Town Manager Paul Bockelman on Aug. 7 entered into a $520,000 buy-sell agreement with Hickory Ridge Golf Course owner Appliedgolf, of Millstone, New Jersey, for the 149-acre West Pomeroy Lane site.
The purchase of the land, which is appraised at $915,000, will depend on an appropriation of $306,000 from the stabilization account to supplement $200,000 already coming from the Community Preservation Act account. In addition, the town can use more than $100,000 previously set aside from other land deals.
Ziomek said plentiful resources exist on the site, with a 1.4-mile-long section of the Fort River passing through it. That unique ecological habitat, Ziomek said, holds a number of rare and endangered species.
He said the town had “a once-in-a-lifetime” chance to get over a mile of frontage on the Fort River.
The proximity to the apartment complexes off East Hadley Road and the neighborhoods of Orchard Valley could mean the creation of hiking trails and paths to bring people on foot to Pomeroy Village center and Crocker Farm School.
“What intrigued us was its potential to connect people to a place,” Ziomek said.
“Hundreds of residents live there with limited access to open space,” he added.
Though the town would lose about $30,000 a year in property taxes, Amherst is expected to collect about $39,800 as payment-in-lieu-of-taxes from the solar project in the first year, rising to $63,700 after 20 years.
Before the purchase is executed, town officials will make sure that Appliedgolf is accepted into the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target, or SMART program. An arrangement would include a 20-year lease for the solar property, with potential for up to four renewals for five years each.
Ziomek said master planning for the site is needed. Buildable land and existing buildings could be used for projects such as a new senior center, affordable housing or swing space for the Department of Public Works and Fire Department when their new building projects are underway.
One activity that would not continue under town ownership is golf, Ziomek said. Hickory Ridge has been a golf course since 1969, but Amherst already owns and operates the nine-hole Cherry Hill in North Amherst.
Ziomek said costs such as insurance and property upkeep are unknown. “We need to do a little more study,” Ziomek said.
Councilors, who had been apprised of the sale in executive sessions this month, appeared receptive to the deal. District 5 Councilor Shalini Bahl-Milne said the acquisition is an exciting opportunity.
The matter next goes to the Finance Committee for consideration on Sept. 5.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.