Northampton’s Senior Land Use Planner/Permits Manager Carolyn Misch led a workshop on the proposed changes to the Zero Lot Line zoning regulations at Bridge Street School on 3/17/09. The goal of the changes is to facilitate infill by “[simplifying] Zero Lot Line Development to eliminate fences, reduce 30’ side setback to 15’, and allow lots […]
Infill
New York Times: “Electric Cars for All! (No, Really This Time)”
David Pogue’s March 19 column for The New York Times reports on Better Place, an innovative approach to electric cars. We have noted before how cars are popular due to their comfort, convenience and utility. Even if oil prices jump back over $100, urban planners should not assume that the car itself will begin to […]
Video: Planning Board Meeting of 3/12/09; Training Presentation for Planning Board Members
Here is a video of the 3/12/09 meeting of Northampton’s Planning Board. It is 1 hour and 38 minutes long. It was recorded by Lisa Maloney and is available on Vimeo. Here is the agenda of the meeting: Board Elections Sustainable Northampton Implementation (1:04:20-1:36:50 on the video. Discusses priority of various initiatives.) More training (0:00:00-0:38:20 on the […]
Video: Conservation Commission Meeting of 3/12/09; Deadlock on Kohl Condo Proposal
Here is a Google video of most of the Conservation Commission meeting of 3/12/09. Only the portion that followed the Kohl hearing was not recorded. This video is 3 hours and 59 minutes long, and was recorded by Adam Cohen. Thanks to Steve Hathaway for transcription assistance. The portion of the meeting devoted to the […]
Valley Advocate: “Bogged Down – Doug Kohl runs into trouble with plans for his subdivision off North Street in Northampton”
The Valley Advocate today published “Bogged Down – Doug Kohl runs into trouble with plans for his subdivision off North Street in Northampton”. Mike Kirby reports on the gestation of the new Wetlands Ordinance and the problems Kohl Construction is having with securing Conservation Commission approval for its proposed condo project. Some excerpts: …a cloud […]
Video: Public Forum on Planning and Sustainability, 3/11/09
Here is a complete Google video of a Public Forum on Planning and Sustainability that took place at Bridge Street School on March 11. This event was co-sponsored by the Northampton Design Forum and the Ward 3 Neighborhood Association, and included presentation of work by the Notre Dame Urban Design Studio. The video is 1 […]
Video: Zoning Revisions Committee Meeting of 3/10/09; Draft Sustainable Northampton Regulatory Implementation
Here is a complete Google video of the first meeting of Northampton’s Zoning Revisions Committee. The meeting took place on March 10 in City Council Chambers. This committee is charged with recommending zoning revisions to the Planning Board that implement the Sustainable Northampton Plan. The video is about two hours long and is also available […]
Kohl Files Narrative and Drainage Report with Revised Condo Proposal; Interpreting the Wetlands Ordinance
Kohl Construction, doing business as Tofino Associates and Northern Avenue Homes, submitted a stormwater drainage report today to the Conservation Commission along with its revised proposal for condos off North Street. The configuration of units is the same as presented to the Commission on February 26 (23 units plus roads and parking lots). As we’ve […]
Zero Lot Line Workshop Rescheduled to March 17
Northampton’s Office of Planning and Development announces: The Zero Lot Line workshop that was canceled due to the Bridge Street School snow closure on Mon Mar 2 has been rescheduled for Tuesday March 17 at Bridge Street School at 7:00 PM. See also: Gazette: “What’s up with zero lot lines?” (3/2/09) Video: Planning Board and […]
Download Envisioning Sustainable Northampton – Final Notre Dame Studio Presentation Book
Joel Russell at the Northampton Design Forum has kindly authorized us to make Envisioning Sustainable Northampton, the final presentation book from the Notre Dame Northampton Urban Design Charrette, available as a free PDF download (131 pages, 26MB). This book was prepared by the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture Urban Design Studio for the […]