A message from Joel Russell, chair of the Northampton Design Forum: The Notre Dame urban design studio has been hard at work since the Design Northampton Week charrette in September. The students have been refining ideas, creating new plans, and illustrating them with more perspective views. Some of this work was presented at their mid-term […]
Month: November 2008
Smart Growth vs. “Smart Growth”
“We would like to concentrate development closer in, we like the idea of walkability, bikeability, neighborhood center… The thing that happens to us, however, is that we buy that and then somebody builds some horrible thing…and then they say to you, “This is infill, you know. It’s good, it’s infill.” …You know if you walk […]
Update from Notre Dame; Critique of Northampton Sector Diagram
[11/13/08 update – Notre Dame Professor Philip Bess sent us this comment and authorized us to share it with you: We share your commitment to green space in Northampton, both usable and preserved; and are cognizant of the low-lying downtown areas prone to flooding. I just want to reassure you here that even if our […]
11/19: Landfill Alternatives Forum
We are pleased to publicize this flyer from Citizens United for a Healthy Future, also available as a PDF: See also: Saving Paradise: Articles about the Proposed Northampton Regional Landfill Expansion City of Springfield: DPW To Issue Fines to Non-Recyclers This Week (10/14/08)In a continuing effort to increase recycling, the City of Springfield Department of […]
Video: November 5 Best Practices Meeting; Media Coverage Wanted; Marathon Session on Tap for November 12
Northampton’s Best Practices Committee met at the Board of Public Works conference room at 125 Locust Street on November 5. Here is a complete Vimeo video of the meeting as recorded by Jendi Reiter. It’s one hour and 36 minutes long. Selected highlights: 16min:30sec: Discussion of how to interest the Gazette in the work of […]
Press Release: Best Practices Committee Begins Final Report
We are forwarding this press release from the city: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 6, 2008 BEST PRACTICES COMMITTEE BEGINS FINAL REPORT The Ad-Hoc Committee on Best Practices in Northampton Decision-Making (Best Practices Committee) is entering the final phase of its activities and beginning the preparation of a draft final report to the Northampton City Council. […]
Ordinance to Simplify Zero Lot Line Developments to Come Before City Council on 11/6/08
[Update: The City Council agenda says this proposal is getting its first reading on November 6, but it’s actually at an earlier stage of the process. The proposal will likely be referred out to various committee meetings and hearings before coming back to the Council.] This November 6, Northampton’s City Council will get its first look at amending Ordinance […]
New Hazards Mitigation Plan Reflects Weakened Protection for Wetlands
Northampton’s Office of Planning and Development has made the new Proposed Local Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan (PDF) available for public review. The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on this plan on November 13, 7pm, in City Council Chambers, 212 Main Street. We compared the new Plan to the existing one, which the City Council signed […]