Index: src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/DownloadAction.java
===================================================================
--- src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/DownloadAction.java	(revision 7529)
+++ src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/DownloadAction.java	(working copy)
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.Main;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.actions.downloadtasks.DownloadGpsTask;
+import org.openstreetmap.josm.actions.downloadtasks.DownloadNotesTask;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.actions.downloadtasks.DownloadOsmTask;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.actions.downloadtasks.PostDownloadHandler;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.data.Bounds;
@@ -53,6 +54,14 @@
                 Future<?> future = task.download(dialog.isNewLayerRequired(),area, null);
                 Main.worker.submit(new PostDownloadHandler(task, future));
             }
+
+            //TODO: This eventually needs to be a checkbox in the UI
+            //For now I'm adding it as a hidden feature since this is still a work in progress
+            if (Main.pref.getBoolean("osm.notes.enableDownload", false)) {
+                DownloadNotesTask task = new DownloadNotesTask();
+                Future<?> future = task.download(false, area, null);
+                Main.worker.submit(new PostDownloadHandler(task, future));
+            }
         }
     }
 }
Index: src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/OpenLocationAction.java
===================================================================
--- src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/OpenLocationAction.java	(revision 7529)
+++ src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/OpenLocationAction.java	(working copy)
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.Main;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.actions.downloadtasks.DownloadGpsTask;
+import org.openstreetmap.josm.actions.downloadtasks.DownloadNotesTask;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.actions.downloadtasks.DownloadOsmChangeCompressedTask;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.actions.downloadtasks.DownloadOsmChangeTask;
 import org.openstreetmap.josm.actions.downloadtasks.DownloadOsmCompressedTask;
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@
         this.downloadTasks = new ArrayList<>();
         addDownloadTaskClass(DownloadOsmTask.class);
         addDownloadTaskClass(DownloadGpsTask.class);
+        addDownloadTaskClass(DownloadNotesTask.class);
         addDownloadTaskClass(DownloadOsmChangeTask.class);
         addDownloadTaskClass(DownloadOsmUrlTask.class);
         addDownloadTaskClass(DownloadOsmCompressedTask.class);