On December 4, 2024, staff from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection visited the site of the proposed development at 8 View Avenue. Sovereign Builders seeks to build 12 units of housing there. The visit was prompted by a Request for Superseding Order of Conditions filed by Northampton residents and abutters in October. The neighbors are concerned that the development has inadequate plans to manage stormwater. On its visit, the DEP was accompanied by abutters, residents, their counsel and stormwater consultant, and representatives of the developer.
Following the visit, Robert Gemma, the stormwater engineer retained by abutters to critique the developer’s plans, sent this report (PDF) to the DEP on December 11. He also provided this StreamStats Report (PDF) about Millyard Brook at the back of the property and a USGS guide (PDF) to the simulation of groundwater mounding beneath hypothetical stormwater infiltration basins.
The DEP posed a series of questions to Sovereign Builders in December and they responded (PDF) on January 10. Sovereign Builders also provided these supplemental files (PDF) with details about the site and their plans.
We will continue to post updates about the DEP process.