At the Conservation Commission meeting of August 23, it was briefly discussed how some of the wetlands on Kohl Construction’s proposed condo site off North Street have been disturbed or filled. We came away concerned that some members of the commission did not take this issue seriously. One said something to the effect of, ‘Much of Boston […]
Ordinances and Regulations
Boxborough Wetlands Regulations: Plans that Require Replication Discouraged; Buffer Zone No-Nos
Wetlands regulations in Boxborough (PDF) discuss the replication issue and spell out which activities are prohibited within 100 feet of protected resources areas. Here is an excerpt, which certain passages emphasized: 2.3.3. Wetland Replication.The history of wetland replication is mixed. Scientific reviews [Brown, S&P Veneman, 1998] conclude that for the most part replications fail to […]
Stockbridge Wetlands Protection: 100-Foot Buffers
The Berkshire County town of Stockbridge empowers its Conservation Commision to protect its water bodies and wetlands, including the power to require “strips of continuous, undisturbed vegetative cover within the 200-foot or 100-foot area” around these resources. Here is an excerpt from the Stockbridge Wetlands Protection bylaw, with certain passages emphasized: Section 1. The purpose of this Article is […]
Massachusetts abandons plan to limit residents’ ability to appeal certain wetlands decisions
We are happy to relay this news from Clean Water Action… Victory!Massachusetts Wetlands and Citizens’ Rights Protected…Officials in the Patrick administration [announced] today that because of pressure from environmental groups they are abandoning their plan to limit residents’ ability to appeal certain wetlands decisions.This means that thanks to you, we’ve won.Our campaign to protect citizens’ […]
Wayland Wetlands Protection: Work within the 100-Foot Buffer Zone Triggers Permit Requirement
The Code of the Town of Wayland, MA (Chapter 194) calls for permits before work can be done within a 100-foot buffer zone around swamps, vernal pools, streams, and other specified resource areas. We have emphasized certain passages with bold type. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a greater degree of protection of […]
Barnstable Wetland Ordinance: “An undisturbed buffer zone 50 ft. in width shall be provided”
Barnstable is another Massachusetts community that emphasizes the importance of a 50-foot undisturbed zone around wetlands. Its regulations (PDF) state: …An undisturbed buffer zone 50 ft. in width shall be provided between wetland resource areas and the limit of site disturbance. It is recommended that proposed structures within the buffer zone be located no closer […]
Springfield Wetland Regulations: “A minimum of a fifty (50) foot undisturbed buffer”
As with protection for significant trees, once again our friends in Springfield are outpacing Northampton when it comes to environmental protection. Here are excerpts from Springfield’s Wetland Protection Regulations currently in force. We have emphasized selected passages with bold type.Contrast Springfield’s regulations with the ones that will come before Northampton’s City Council on September 6. […]
Gazette Lead Editorial: “A public role in planning”
The lead editorial in today’s Gazette says public input needs to be involved earlier in the planning process: While the Planning Board’s options are limited statutorily, in our opinion there needs to be a way for the board to garner public opinion earlier in the process and work with developers sooner to address design concerns……Northampton […]
Letter to The Republican: “planners and most board members are out of touch with the city’s residents”
Today’s Republican publishes a letter from John Sinton, a retired land-use planner. Here is an excerpt: Northampton board lax in OK of Hilton site planThe recent approval of a Hilton Garden Inn site plan by the Northampton Planning Board was heartbreaking. While the public made both rational and impassioned pleas to reject the hotel’s current site […]
Northampton’s Flood and Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan: Floyd Flood Damage Reported Behind View Avenue; Avoid Building on Filled Wetlands
On September 2, 2004, the Northampton City Council approved a Flood and Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (PDF). The Project Manager for developing this plan was Gloria McPherson, Conservation and Land Use Planner. Ms. McPherson now works for Kohl Construction. Here are key highlights from the plan with respect to NSNA’s objectives, followed by an expanded overview. […]