Ed Shanahan is the editor of downstreet.net. He writes: As a member of the Northampton Tree Committee, I, like other members of the committee, have been frustrated by our inability to advance the cause of shade trees in this community.Each year, the city removes more dead or hazardous trees than it replaces, leaving a net […]
Ordinances and Regulations
Environmental Consultant: “there are likely to be several hundred vernal pools in the City which could be certifyable”
As commissioned by the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, New England Environmental, a consulting firm, just sent a report on vernal pools to Suzanne Beck. Suzanne is the executive director of the Chamber. Here are excerpts from Michael Marcus’s report, which assesses the vernal pool portion of Northampton’s proposed wetlands ordinance. The complete report is available […]
Wetlands Ordinance, Other Important Meetings on Tap for Today
All those interested in a Sustainable Northampton are urged to attend one or more of the following public meetings today: Attend the Ordinance Committee meeting on July 24, 6:00pm at 212 Main Street in City Council Chambers. This meeting will discuss changes to Northampton’s wetlands regulationsCouncilor David Narkewicz says this is the “final and required […]
NSNA Circulates Northampton Trees & Wetlands Petition
The North Street Neighborhood Association is now circulating a Northampton Trees & Wetlands Petition (MS Word version, Rich Text File version). The text of the petition reads: Northampton was designated a “Tree City” in 2005, in recognition for its commitment to community trees and forests. Nevertheless, large, cherished trees continue to be cut down without […]
The Sustainability Plan: Infill, Forests, Wetlands and Whom to Email
Northampton’s Planning Board will hold two two-hour workshops to review the Sustainability Plan (PDF) on August 9 and 16. The public is encouraged to send comments to sustainablenorthampton@cecilgroup.com. Here are several passages of particular interest from the plan, with emphasis added. The plan’s authors have anticipated that infill might not be popular with neighboring residents. […]
Text of Springfield’s Ordinance to Protect “Significant Trees”
Springfield has an ordinance that protects trees that are 75+ years old or 3+ feet in diameter. Such trees may be cut down only if they are diseased or damaged, or if the person who wants to cut it down can prove hardship in excess of the public’s interest in preserving the tree. SIGNIFICANT TREES […]
Proposed Changes to Northampton Wetlands Protection: Making Way for Infill
Below for your reference are the proposed changes to wetlands protection in Northampton, also available as a PDF. Rules for vernal pools, which are to enjoy at least 100 feet of buffer space in a related proposal (PDF), are also under consideration. The Ordinance Committee will discuss these ordinances in a public meeting on July […]
Community Tree Ordinances and Bylaws for Massachusetts Communities
This Urban Forestry web page from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation links to tree-related regulations from around the state. Deb Jacobs, chair of Northampton’s Tree Committee, pointed us to this page. The next public meeting of the committee is July 24, 6:30pm at the Department of Public Works Office on 125 Locust Street. […]