Here is a complete blip.tv video of the 5/20/09 meeting of the Zoning Revisions Committee. This video is 1 hour 55 minutes long and was recorded by Ken Mitchell. The meeting includes a discussion of King Street and its long-standing struggles. The agenda: Public comment Continue discussion of the web site Follow up on any […]
Ordinances and Regulations
May 26: Campaign & Political Finance Workshop
A press release from the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance: Campaign & political finance workshop on May 26 Learn about the state regulations for campaigning and political finance during a workshop at the Northampton Senior Center on Tuesday, May 26, at 6 p.m. This is event is free and open to everyone. Topics […]
Video: Conservation Commission Reviews Latest Kohl Condo Proposal on 5/14/09
Here is a Vimeo video of a portion of the 5/14/09 meeting of Northampton’s Conservation Commission. This video is 2 hours 34 minutes long and was recorded by Adam Cohen. Most of the recording is devoted to the Conservation Commission’s review of Kohl Construction’s latest 23-unit condo proposal for North Street. This video is also […]
Video: A Close Look at the Presentation of the Wetlands Ordinance to City Council on 9/20/07
The intent of Northampton’s new Wetlands Ordinance has been a hot topic of conversation at the recent Conservation Commission hearings for Kohl Construction’s condo proposal for North Street. What kinds of disturbance are acceptable within 10, 35 and 50 feet of a wetland in our zoning district (URB)? What kinds of mitigation balance a given […]
Audio Recording of Zoning Revisions Committee Meeting of 5/6/09
Here is a complete audio recording of the meeting of Northampton’s Zoning Revisions Committee on May 6. It’s 2 hours and 6 minutes long (MP3 file, 57MB). Thanks to Owen Freeman-Daniels and Jim Nash for facilitating this recording. Here is the meeting agenda: Zoning Revisions Committee Meeting May 6 Agenda 1st Floor Memorial Hall (old […]
Our Ad in Today’s Gazette: “How to Avoid Classic Infill Design Mistakes”
Our ad in today’s Gazette (5/6/09) describes how Kohl Construction’s proposed condo development off North Street would commit a number of classic urban infill design mistakes. Download this ad as a high-resolution PDF (432 KB). Concerned citizens are urged to attend Conservation Commission and Planning Board hearings on this proposal on May 14 (see flyer, […]
Video: Planning Board Approves North Campus Hospital Hill Subdivision, Denies Dog Kennel Permit on 4/23/09
Here is a blip.tv video from the Northampton Planning Board meeting of 4/23/09. This recording covers the first hour and 25 minutes of the meeting, and was filmed by Lachlan Ziegler. Here are the agenda items covered in the video: 7:00 P.M. Continuation (not previously opened) of a hearing on the request by Hospital Hill […]
May 6: Zoning Revisions Committee to Discuss Sustainability Plan, Community Involvement
We encourage citizens to attend this meeting on the implementation of the Sustainable Northampton Plan: Zoning Revisions Committee Meeting May 6 Agenda 1st Floor Memorial Hall (old COA space) (enter at side door facing Unitarian Society bldg) 7:00 PM 1. Public comment 2. Discussion with Chris Mason, Northampton energy officer, about green community initiatives3. Discuss […]
Toronto Urban Design Guidelines: Infill Townhouses
The City of Toronto has compiled design guidelines specifically for infill townhouses (PDF, 34 pages). Let’s explore these guidelines and draw contrasts with the Kohl condo proposal for North Street. We have emphasized certain passages in red. Toronto Urban Design Guidelines:Infill Townhouses January 2003 Page 4: As with any type of infill development, however, it […]
Portland Infill Design Strategies: Best Practices for Context-Sensitive Infill Design
Portland, Oregon has long experience with Smart Growth tracing back to the 1970s. While we’ve been critical of many of the ways Smart Growth has been applied there, the city has amassed a valuable body of knowledge about infill techniques that are relatively gentle on existing neighborhoods. Here are selections from “Infill Design Strategies: Best […]