Here is a Google video of the complete January 8 meeting of Northampton’s Best Practices Committee. This video is 1 hour and 43 minutes long and was recorded by Ken Mitchell. There will be a Best Practices Public Forum on Draft Recommendations on Wednesday, February 11, 7pm in the Community Room of J.F.K. Middle School, […]
Author: NorthAssocAdmin
Gazette Reports on Kohl Condo Hearings; Pictures of the Latest Proposal; Conservation Staff Report; HYLA Critique
Today’s Gazette reports on the Conservation Commission and Planning Board hearings yesterday for Kohl Construction’s proposed condo project off North Street (see schematic diagrams and narrative). We’ll have videos of both these hearings online within a few days. No decisions were made. Hearings are scheduled to continue on February 26 (Conservation Commission) and March 26 […]
Our Ad in Today’s Gazette: A Review of Our Objections to the Kohl Condo Proposal
Here is our ad as it appears on page 3 of the A section in today’s Daily Hampshire Gazette (download a high-resolution PDF). This ad summarizes many of our key objections to the Kohl condo proposal for North Street. The text is reproduced below the ad image with links added so you can explore the […]
Video: Planning Board and Ordinance Committee Discuss Zero Lot Line Changes, Traffic Mitigation Payments
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 […]
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 […]