[7/26/07 clarification: In the article below, we don’t mean to imply that dengue/malaria/yellow fever are currently in Northampton. However, they serve to illustrate that mosquitoes are associated with disease in general (such as West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis), and that excessively exposing people to mosquitoes is risky. As the New England climate has […]
Wetlands
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 […]
Letter to Gazette: “The importance of protecting the Valley’s wetlands”
Today’s Gazette publishes a letter from Nancy Wychorski of Northampton. She gives several reasons why wetlands should be protected, among them: The wetlands do act as sponges when snow melts and rain threatens to overflow riverbanks. The watershed area, of streams, swamps, etc., acts as a buffer filtering some of the pollutants from roads and […]
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 […]
Kohl’s Condo Proposal: Where Things Stand, and What You Can Do
Kohl Construction proposes to build 31 condo units in the forest between North Street and the bike path. This development, with its access roads and 66 parking spaces, will claim 5.49 acres of land. These pictures show the area affected:The urban forest behind North Street is already surrounded by developmentThe crucial large lots slated for […]
EPA: Urban Heat Islands
The Environmental Protection Agency describes the effects of development on local urban temperatures. Note the dramatic moderating effect of an urban park. What Is a Heat Island? The term “heat island” refers to urban air and surface temperatures that are higher than nearby rural areas. Many U.S. cities and suburbs have air temperatures up to […]
Benefits of Urban Wetlands and Their Buffer Areas
In their Wetlands Request for Determination of Applicability (PDF) filed with the city last month, Kohl Construction portrays the wetlands between North Street and the bike trail as “degraded”, partly because there’s a grain of truth to this and partly (presumably) to make people feel less bad about development in this area. Kohl’s Area Description: […]
Millyard Brook and Surrounding Wetlands a Longstanding Feature of Ward 3
These maps from 1873 and 1884 show how Millyard Brook and the surrounding wetlands are a persistent and longstanding feature of Ward 3. See also: May 5 Letter to Gazette: “Don’t relax Northampton’s protection of wetlands” In 1989, Northampton passed a wetlands ordinance – still in effect today – with stronger wetlands protections than minimal […]
May 5 Letter to Gazette: “Don’t relax Northampton’s protection of wetlands”
Joanne Montgomery has kindly given us permission to reprint her letter to the Gazette, published in May 2007: To the editor: I am writing to urge broader coverage of opposition to the city’s proposed Amended Wetlands Ordinance. The city’s new business-friendly proposals would skew the process in favor of developers at the expense of wetlands […]
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 […]