The Sustainable Northampton Plan (PDF), recently approved by the Planning Board, includes these goals (p.23): Conserve wetlands with programs to ensure no net loss of wetlands…Preserve existing forests, floodplains, wetlands, and agricultural soils of high ecological value…Recognize that the protection of environmental resources will improve the quality of life and the value of property in […]
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Northampton Redoubt: Urban Planning, Public Policies, and Urban Ecology
Daryl LaFleur’s Northampton Redoubt discusses how Kohl Construction’s proposed condo project off North Street has spurred a larger debate over what Smart Growth means and how to implement it… It’s great to read everyone’s posts on the Paradise City Forum listserv regarding the North Street Condominium proposal and Smart Growth……the Kohl development on North Street will […]
Rutherford Platt, “Regreening the Metropolis: Pathways to More Ecological Cities”
Let’s further explore Dr. Rutherford Platt’s thinking about “ecological cities”. Dr. Platt is affiliated with the Department of Geosciences at UMass Amherst. He is no fan of sprawl, but does believe that ecological cities should incorporate greenspace and green infrastructure throughout their fabric. “Regreening the Metropolis: Pathways to More Ecological Cities”A 2004 Keynote Address by Dr. Rutherford […]
The Ecological Cities Project: Greenspace in “The Humane Metropolis”
The Ecological Cities Project is affiliated with the Department of Geosciences at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. It was founded in 1999 by Dr. Rutherford H. Platt, a familiar figure in the Valley. The project website currently features “The Humane Metropolis”, an article by Neal Peirce. Peirce champions the cause of greenspace in urban environments: […]
Financial Incentives Distort Smart Growth Debates
Smart Growth advocates tell the public that their policies will reduce driving, lower infrastructure costs, protect the environment, and cure social isolation in the suburbs. The actual results have been less than satisfactory, yet Smart Growth continues, in part because city officials and private actors have found it’s a way to access state and federal funds. Randal […]
Smart Growth and Crime
Smart Growth advocates claim that dense urban living and mixed-use neighborhoods will solve many social problems. Unfortunately, the evidence is that these principles can increase crime. Stephen Town and Randal O’Toole analyze the data for Reason magazine in “Crime-Friendly Neighborhoods” (February 2005): [Jane] Jacobs [who promoted the advantages of mixed-use neighborhoods in big cities] never […]
Smart Growth Hazard: A Confining Sameness
As James C. Scott observes in Seeing Like a State, urban planning is extremely complex. People and cities are dynamic. There is a strong temptation for planners to simplify their task through “uniformity and regimentation”. Robert Lang, writing for Planetizen, discusses this in the context of “monster homes”: Most smart growth advocates claim that newly constructed […]
“Sprawl and Congestion—is Light Rail and Transit-Oriented Development the Answer?”
Trains and buses are mainstays of Smart Growth planning, but they have not proven to be cost-effective in many locales. Other alternatives deserve more attention. Emory Bundy makes his case in remarks prepared for a conference entitled, “Sprawl and Congestion—is Light Rail and Transit-Oriented Development the Answer?” (6/17/99). To make clear my values and orientation, […]
Smart Growth Winners (Rich People) and Losers (Other People)
The Sustainable Northampton Plan presents Smart Growth (compact, transit-oriented development) as if it’s good for everyone. The problem is, different environments suit different living situations. In addition, mass transit has a troubled record outside of a handful of large, older dense cities. Let’s hear from the blog Asymmetrical Information (9/27/04): Smart growth is great if you are an upscale […]
Planning Board Adopts Sustainable Northampton Plan
Today’s Gazette reports that Northampton’s Planning Board approved the Sustainable Northampton Plan (PDF) last night. The Cecil Group, a consultant engaged to work on the Plan, provided this memo (PDF) to highlight the latest changes since last month. These changes include: The Sustainable Northampton Plan will be reviewed on an annual basis utilizing a methodology […]