Yesterday’s New York Times observes these are challenging times for condo developers… Many condo projects that started during the real estate boom are just being completed, and developers must begin repaying construction loans taken out before the market turned sour…Nationwide, the number of condos completed this year will be up 45 percent — 232,933 vs. 160,239 […]
Month: October 2007
Gazette: “Should developers police own projects?”
The lead article in today’s Gazette discusses how in Massachusetts, “land developers are often responsible for policing environmental standards on their own projects”. Concerns are raised about weak compliance, underscoring why the North Street Neighborhood Association derives little comfort from phrases like “extraordinary mitigation” in the new wetlands ordinance. Developers’ plans typically look good on paper, but the real-world […]
Greenfield’s Quarter-Million-Dollar Flooding Fix Includes Razing a 4-Family House
The September 27 Republican reports that the city of Greenfield will buy and raze a 4-family house on Beacon Street to resolve persistent flooding problems there: “The deal will allow the city to avoid the costly installation of larger culverts to keep an underground brook from flooding the property…“The development has eliminated a large amount […]
City Council Enacts New Wetlands Ordinance, Including 10-Foot Buffers
In a 7-2 vote, Northampton’s City Council gave its final approval to the new Wetlands Ordinance on Thursday night.Those voting in favor:Councilor At-Large Michael BardsleyWard 1 Councilor Maureen CarneyWard 2 Councilor Paul SpectorWard 3 Councilor Marilyn RichardsWard 4 Councilor David NarkewiczWard 5 Councilor David MurphyWard 6 Councilor Marianne LaBargeThose voting against:Councilor At-Large James DostalWard 7 […]
NSNA Petition Signature Total Vaults Over 3,000
Not only is respect for trees and wetlands scientifically sound, it’s extremely popular. As of today, the North Street Neighborhood Association’s petition has garnered 3,174 signatures, including 2,010 from residents of Northampton. The petitions began circulating on July 21. They call upon Mayor Clare Higgins and the Northampton City Council to: 1) Pass an ordinance to […]
Our Response to Suzanne Beck’s Letter to the Gazette
Today’s Gazette publishes a letter from Suzanne Beck, executive director of the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce: “Wetlands law will help city secure a sustainable future”. Ms. Beck believes the new ordinance will create “new no-disturb areas of 10 to 50 feet”.Regardless of the merits of the other parts of the proposed ordinance, a 10-foot wetlands […]
Two Articles on Wetlands in the Valley Advocate
This week’s Valley Advocate has two articles addressing wetlands. At the front of the paper, editor Tom Vannah pens “Between the Lines: No Time to Relax — The Wetlands Protection Act is under attack”: …West Brook is one of the most closely studied trout streams in the United States. I’ve run into many federal fish biologists […]
Our Response to Jim Levey’s Letter to the Gazette
Today’s Gazette features a brief mention of our campaign to preserve wetlands buffer zones (“Group campaigns for wetlands”) and a letter from Jim Levey of Northampton, “Proposed wetlands measure deserves everyone’s support”. Mr. Levey believes our positions are “not based on fact”… I support the proposed wetlands ordinance, a culmination of over two years’ work […]