Here is a complete Google video of a meeting of the Planning Board and the City Council Ordinance Committee on January 8. This video is 4 hours and 20 minutes long, and was recorded by Lachlan Ziegler and Adam Cohen. As shown by this agenda, the first and last portions of the meeting were Planning […]
Month: January 2009
New England Climate Change: More Rain on Snow Will Challenge Stormwater Management
Stormwater modeling calculations, such as those found in the Kohl condo proposal for North Street, typically leave out a number of common scenarios. One of the most challenging of these is managing the flow from rain that falls on snow. Frozen ground doesn’t absorb water well. Snow can plug up pipes and grates and interfere […]
Gazette: “New law offers tax credits for preservation”
Today’s Gazette reports on a new incentive for land preservation: Saving the landNew law offers tax credits for preservation …A new law signed by Gov. Deval Patrick [creates] a state income tax credit for landowners who voluntarily donate property to their local community, the state or a nonprofit conservation group. The land must meet certain […]
Kohl Submits Revised Proposal Ahead of January 22 Hearings; Modest Concessions to Conservation Commission
Kohl Construction, doing business as Tofino Associates/Northern Avenue Homes, submitted a revised condo proposal to the Conservation Commission on Friday. Download PDFs of the revised proposal (1.96MB) and associated narrative (1.31MB). This proposal will come before the Conservation Commission and the Planning Board on January 22 (see below). Concerned citizens are urged to attend. Here […]
Video: Conservation Commission Meeting of 1/8/09; Challenges of Building Close to Wetland No-Disturb Zones
Here is a Google video of a large portion of the Conservation Commission meeting of January 8. This video was recorded by Lisa Boulerice, and is 1 hour and 47 minutes long. The commissioners discuss at length the difficulties involved with placing structures close to the 10-foot no-disturb zone in Special Industrial zoning districts. Here […]
Boston Globe: “How the city hurts your brain”
Virginia Schulman calls our attention to the following article from The Boston Globe, which originally appeared on 1/2/09. Evidence is piling up that greenspace within a city is vital for mental health. A few excerpts: How the city hurts your brain …And what you can do about it …scientists have begun to examine how the […]
Applications for the Northampton Zoning Revisions Committee Due by January 15
Last call to apply to the Zoning Revisions Committee: What is the Zoning Revisions Committee? The Zoning Revisions Committee will assist the Northampton Planning Board in identifying, developing, and recommending zoning ordinances that serve to implement the Northampton Sustainability Plan. The Zoning Revisions Committee has three main purposes: To review current zoning and recommend revisions […]
Mayor’s Email Update January 2009
The Mayor’s office is circulating the following email update today: Mayor’s Email Update January, 2009 Topics: Young At Heart News of Note Knowledge Corridor Passenger Rail Study Northampton Tops Commonwealth Capital – Again! Home Energy Audits Inaugural events at the Academy of Music & Northampton Center for the Arts Madwoman of Chaillot Four Sundays in […]
Best Practices Videos: Dialogue with City Council (12/18) and Public Forum (1/5)
Following on their presentation of December 4, Northampton’s Best Practices Committee discussed its process and its draft recommendations with the City Council on 12/18/08. This was followed by a Best Practices public forum on 1/5/09. Both events took place in City Council Chambers. Here is a Google video (3 hours 19 minutes) of most of […]
Rail Trail Bridge Installation Will Close Part of North Street on Friday Morning
Northampton’s Office of Planning and Development has the following announcement: OPD North Street between King Street and Market Street Closed Friday 9:00 AM to noon Our contractors will be, weather permitting, installing the Manhan Rail Trail Bridge over North Street on Friday January 9th from 9:00 AM to noon. North Street from King Street to […]