Code of Massachusetts Regulations
330 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES
Title 330 CMR 18.00 - Land Use
Section 18.02 - Vacant Public Land Licensing
Universal Citation: 330 MA Code of Regs 330.18
Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
(1) Agreements with Public Agencies and Property Owners.
(a) The Department shall, with the
cooperation of other state agencies, cities and towns, compile a list of all
vacant land, which in the opinion of the agencies, cities and towns, can be
feasibly used for gardening, arbor culture or farming.
(b) The Department shall, by letters of
agreement, contract with such agencies, cities or towns for the use of said
vacant land. Contracts may contain a termination date. If no date is
determined, either party may terminate the contract by providing 60 days
written notice; but no contract shall be terminated until the end of the
harvest season. The Department shall notify the gardeners or farmers of the
notice of termination.
(c) Owners
of land may make available to the Department parcels of land for the purposes
set forth in M.G.L. c. 128, § 7B under terms and conditions agreed upon
between the owners and the Department, and the Commonwealth, the department and
all of its officers, agents and employees shall be saved harmless as provided
in M.G.L. c. 128, § 7B.
(2) Permits and Licenses Issued to Farmers.
(a) Unless terms have
been dictated by special legislation, licensing procedure shall follow the
Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance's procedures for licensing
state-owned real property.
(b)
Licensing shall be for an initial period not to exceed five years and may be
extended for an additional five year term.
(c) One-year permits may be issued by the
Department where circumstances preclude a longer license.
(d)
Application
Procedures:
1. Public Requests
for Proposals (RFP's) for use of parcels of state-owned Vacant Public Land
shall be advertised, at a minimum, in the Central Register, and the
Administration and Finance Operational Services Division.
2. Persons wishing to respond to the RFP
shall do so in the manner prescribed by the RFP.
3. At a minimum, the RFP's shall require a
detailed land use plan for the use of the Vacant Public Land.
(e) The land use plan submitted
with the application shall be incorporated into the license and the applicants
must agree to maintain the land in a condition consistent with said land use
plan. If the applicants fail to maintain the land according to the plan, the
Department may terminate the license according to the terms.
(f) The RFP may specify the Vacant Public
Land may be used for other public purposes including public access and/or use
for recreation in the off season, rights of way, easements, and restrictions of
record.
(g) Priority in the
allotment of Vacant Public Land for Garden and Arbor purposes shall be given to
Elderly persons of low income, Families of low income and children between
seven and 16 years of age.
(3) Good Soil and Resource Management Practices must Be Employed.
(a) All licensees shall use good
agricultural/horticultural and soil conservation practices.
(b) The Department or controlling agency may
require such practices as the use of cover crops, vegetative strips along
waterways, wildlife cover and food strips, contouring, strip planting, and may
restrict the use of fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, or other
chemicals.
(c) At the end of the
permit or license period, the land shall be in at least as good condition as it
was at the beginning of such period.
(4) General Conditions.
(a) Retail sales of
farm products on the Vacant Public Land shall not be permitted except when
specific permission in writing is granted by all agencies having a controlling
interest in the land, and an adequate amount of liability insurance is
maintained by the permit holder or lessee.
(b) Products grown in Gardens and Arbors
shall not be sold.
(c) Permanent
structures may be erected with prior approval of the Department and shall
remain with the land.
(d) Temporary
structures, including fencing, necessary to the farm operation may be erected
subject to removal at the termination of the permit or license, unless
otherwise agreed upon.
(e) All
licensees shall indemnify and save harmless the Commonwealth, the Department of
Agricultural Resources and all of its officers, agents and employees against
suits and claims of liability of each name and nature arising out of, or in
consequence of the use of Vacant Public Land.
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