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 […]
Wetlands
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: […]
Easthampton Flooding Hazard: Snow-Clogged Storm Drains
Maintaining man-made stormwater systems can be a lot of work, today’s Gazette reports: With the National Weather Service predicting a 70 percent chance of precipitation for Sunday, snowed-in catch basins around the city are likely to pose a flooding hazard [according to Easthampton Superintendent of Public Works Joseph I. Pipczynski]…“If the water has nowhere to go, […]
Smart Growth with Balance: The American Planning Association
In its advocacy of Smart Growth, the American Planning Association supports the principles of citizen participation, preservation of neighborhood character, respect for urban greenspace, and fairness. The APA’s Policy Guide on Smart Growth, adopted in 2002, defines Smart Growth as follows: Smart growth means using comprehensive planning to guide, design, develop, revitalize and build communities for all […]
UMass Press: “Natural Land: Preserving and Funding Open Space”
The University of Massachusetts Press (Amherst) recently published Preserving and Enhancing Communities: A Guide for Citizens, Planners, and Policymakers, a timely addition to the Sustainable Northampton debate. The book generally supports Smart Growth concepts while it also underscores the value of urban open space. We focus on the latter in these excerpts from Chapter 10, “Natural Land: Preserving and Funding […]
Gazette: “Region’s storms going to extremes, report finds”
Today’s Gazette reports New England is experiencing more extreme rainstorms than in the past. We can also expect longer periods of relative dryness. Extreme downpours and snowstorms are rising in frequency nationally, with the highest increases in New England…Massachusetts saw a 67 percent rise in severe storms during [1948-2006], trailing only Rhode Island and New Hampshire……the […]
Metro Portland’s Long Experience with Smart Growth: A Cautionary Tale
To see how Smart Growth policies might affect Northampton, we can look to the experience of those who are farther down the path. The experience of the Portland metro area raises concerns. Restricting sites that can be developed boosts home prices. Homeownership rates can suffer, especially among minorities and those with lower incomes. Buyers who want affordable homes with yards […]
Metro Portland: “Nature in Neighborhoods”
Metropolitan Portland has been grappling with issues of Smart Growth for years. Its Nature in Neighborhoods program recognizes that greenspace is an important amenity for residents: The Portland metropolitan region is set in an exceptional natural landscape. It is surrounded by hills and mountains and laced with rivers and streams. It is a region of national […]