In 2007, the Northampton City Council approved a new Wetlands Ordinance that, in the name of infill, encourages developers to encroach closer to wetlands in many in-town locations. Climate-wise, this move is badly timed, as the frequency and severity of “precipitation events” in Massachusetts is on the rise. The April 5 Republican reports: The Northeast is seeing more […]
Wetlands
Download the Latest Three County Fairgrounds Stormwater Management Proposal
Download the latest stormwater management proposal for the Three County Fairgrounds (February 5 version) from the website of Ward 3 City Councilor Angela Plassmann. It is expected that the Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing on this revised proposal on March 11, 5pm in the City Hall Hearing Room (Room 18 on the second floor, […]
Video: MEPA Visit to Three County Fairgrounds, 11/30/09
Here is a complete blip.tv video of the 11/30/09 Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) site visit to the Three County Fairgrounds. This video is 1 hour 38 minutes long and was recorded by Adam Cohen. It includes an indoor presentation followed by a walk through portions of the site. Stormwater management was a primary concern […]
New York Times: “As Sewers Fill, Waste Poisons Waterways”
It is common for Smart Growth proponents to claim that adding density to existing urban infrastructure is cheaper than building infrastructure in new areas. The reality, however, is more complicated. The 11/23/09 New York Times reports: As Sewers Fill, Waste Poisons Waterways In the last three years alone, more than 9,400 of the nation’s 25,000 […]
Video: Conservation Commission, 11/12/09: Three County Fairgrounds
Here is a blip.tv video of the complete 11/12/09 meeting of Northampton’s Conservation Commission. This video is 2 hours 37 minutes long and was recorded by Lachlan Ziegler. Here is the official agenda of the meeting: CONSERVATION COMMISSION in the Hearing Room 18, City Hall 210 Main Street, Northampton, MA for a public hearing:5:00 PM […]
November 12: Conservation Commission Hearing on Three County Fairgrounds for a Wetlands Order of Conditions
Northampton’s Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing on November 12 regarding work at the Three County Fairgrounds: CONSERVATION COMMISSION in the Hearing Room 18, City Hall 210 Main Street, Northampton, MA for a public hearing:5:00 PM Three County Fairgrounds for a Wetlands Order of Conditions for a complete redevelopment of the site, with five […]
Video: Mayoral Debate on Jobs, Business & The Economy, 10/21/09
This is a complete blip.tv video of the 10/21/09 Mayoral Debate on Jobs, Business & The Economy, sponsored by the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce and the Daily Hampshire Gazette. The debate was moderated by Jim Foudy, publisher of the Gazette. This video is 1 hour 17 minutes long and was recorded by Adam Cohen. Here is […]
Video Highlights from the 10/19/09 Mayoral Debate: Wetlands, King Street, Infill and the BID
Here are selected highlights from the 10/19/09 mayoral debate between incumbent Clare Higgins and Michael Bardsley. Each clip is 3-4 minutes long. This debate was hosted by the Ward 3 Neighborhood Association. The original video of the complete debate was recorded by Mary Serreze of Northampton Media.Question: Talk about a mistake you have made and what […]
Kohl Condo Proposal: Final Conditions and Covenants
With respect to the Kohl Construction condo proposal for North Street approved by the Conservation Commission on September 10, Northampton Land Use and Conservation Planner Bruce Young has released the final Order of Conditions (PDF, 889KB) and Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions, Easements, and Maintenance Agreements (PDF, 37KB).See also:Video: Conservation Commission Meeting of 9/10/09; Kohl Condos Approved; Upper […]
AP: “Study: Urban streams contaminated by road salt”
This fresh AP report underscores the risks of developing areas close to streams: Study: Urban streams contaminated by road saltMany urban streams have become salty enough to harm aquatic life, largely because of salt used for deicing roads in the winter, according to a new government study released Wednesday.The U.S. Geological Survey studied urban streams and groundwater […]