This week’s Valley Advocate has two articles addressing wetlands. At the front of the paper, editor Tom Vannah pens “Between the Lines: No Time to Relax — The Wetlands Protection Act is under attack”: …West Brook is one of the most closely studied trout streams in the United States. I’ve run into many federal fish biologists […]
Ordinances and Regulations
Our Response to Jim Levey’s Letter to the Gazette
Today’s Gazette features a brief mention of our campaign to preserve wetlands buffer zones (“Group campaigns for wetlands”) and a letter from Jim Levey of Northampton, “Proposed wetlands measure deserves everyone’s support”. Mr. Levey believes our positions are “not based on fact”… I support the proposed wetlands ordinance, a culmination of over two years’ work […]
EPA: Threats to Wetlands
In September 2001, the EPA published “Threats to Wetlands” (PDF) to encourage conservation. We reproduce excerpts here, emphasizing some passages with red type. While the national rate of wetlands loss has slowed since the 1970s, Northampton threatens to go against this trend with its proposed wetlands ordinance. This ordinance invites developers to encroach as close […]
Northampton Circulates Revised Wetlands Ordinance Ahead of October 4 Vote
The City of Northampton has released the current version of the proposed Wetlands Ordinance. We reprint it below. This version incorporates amendments approved at the first reading of the ordinance before City Council on September 20. The Council voted 7-2 to approve the ordinance as amended. The second and final reading will take place at the City […]
Press Release: Northampton, MA Citizens Campaign to Protect Their Urban Wetlands, Prevent Flooding; 16,978 Postcards Mailed to Voters
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEEmail in**@no********.org for more informationNorthampton, MA Citizens Campaign to Protect Their Urban Wetlands, Prevent FloodingCitizens of Northampton, MA are campaigning to preserve the buffer zones around the city’s urban wetlands from development. Northampton has a proud tradition of environmental stewardship and sustainable growth, but on October 4, Northampton’s City Council plans to vote […]
Gazette: “City board swamped by minutes backlog”
Today’s Gazette reports on problems citizens are having obtaining recent minutes from Northampton’s Conservation Commission: The commission’s minutes from sessions this year still have not been made available to the public. Minutes from meetings last year are now being posted on the city’s Web site with the help of an intern…The Conservation Commission’s minutes have […]
Greenfield Conservation Commission Declines to Weigh in on City’s Bid to Ease Wetlands Restrictions
Wednesday’s Republican reports: The Conservation Commission last night voted not to take a position on the city’s bid to ease wetlands restrictions to facilitate development.“I don’t think we should get involved … We’re supposed to be neutral,” commission member Charles N. Koch said…The proposals come from the city Planning Department, and specifically from Marlene Marrocco, […]
The 11th Hour
Seen this month in the window of Pleasant Street Theater…See also:Breaking News: Council Approves New Wetlands Ordinance 7-2 on First ReadingAfter nearly two hours of debate between Northampton’s City Councilors, the Council voted 7-2 to approve the proposed new wetlands ordinance with some minor amendments. Councilor-At-Large Jim Dostal and Ward 7 Councilor Ray LaBarge voted against the […]
Millions of Dollars of Property Outside the Official Floodplain Vulnerable to Localized Flooding
As reported in today’s Sunday Republican, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission invites the public to review a Local Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan for Northampton (PDF) as well as plans for other valley municipalities.We believe Northampton’s proposed wetlands ordinance, by inviting developers to encroach as close as 10 feet to wetlands in our more populous districts, goes against the goals of […]
NSNA on Conservation Commission Agenda for September 27
The North Street Neighborhood Association is on the Conservation Commission’s agenda for September 27. The meeting begins at 5:30pm. Our portion will begin around 7:00pm. We will make our case to the commission that urban residents need and deserve the same benefits from wetlands and their buffer zones–especially flood protection–as do more outlying residents.We invite […]