Latest Version of Northampton Reprecincting Map Slated for May 5 Vote

Northampton’s Reprecincting Committee will vote on the map below at 7:30 pm on Thursday, May 5 in the City Clerk’s Office. The Reprecincting Committee will then walk over to Council Chambers in order to present its proposal to the full City Council. David P. Stevens is the chair of the Reprecincting Committee, 413-586-6817. Reprecincting Map […]

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Northampton Reprecincting Committee Releases Draft Map of Changes

Reprecincting Press Release for Public Meeting of 27 April 2011 Rev A Reprecincting Map Draft 25 April 2011 Here is a complete YouTube video of the Reprecincting Committee’s meeting on April 20. This video is 2 hours 27 minutes long and was recorded by Adam Cohen. See also: Video: Reprecincting Committee, April 13, 2011; Ward […]

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Topographical Map Shows How Kohl Condo Proposal Will Eat Into a Rare Stand of Mature Trees in Downtown

We have enlisted OLIVER, The MassGIS Online Data Viewer, to show just how rare and precious the woods behind North Street are in downtown Northampton. These woods are part of Kohl Construction’s proposed 5.49 acre condo site. The plan calls for 31 units and 66 parking spaces, plus access roads [update: the latest version of the plans calls for […]

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Breaking News: Conservation Commission Votes to Delay Vernal Pool Delineation on Kohl Property to Spring 2008

In a significant victory for NSNA, Northampton’s Conservation Commission voted tonight to delay until spring its review of vernal pool delineation on Kohl Construction’s proposed condo site behind North Street. In its original Wetlands Application (PDF) filed several weeks ago with the city, Kohl asserted there were no existing or potential vernal pools on the site:After […]

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Lot Map of Area Targeted by Kohl Construction

Here for your convenience is a map of the lots that abut Kohl Construction’s proposed condo project behind North Street. Kohl’s primary landholdings are the two large lots in the red circle, 25C-012 and 25C-017. A larger version of this map can be downloaded as a PDF.The large lot in the upper portion of the […]

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Irony of Infill: You Have to Drive to Enjoy Nature

A key assumption built into infill is that walking access to amenities associated with civilization takes priority over walking access to nature. If developers are permitted to aggressively pave over green spaces downtown, more residents will be compelled to drive if they want to enjoy parks and woods. Most likely their overall time spent in ‘unbuilt’ environments […]

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Kohl Construction’s Wetlands Application

Here for your reference is Kohl Construction’s Wetlands Application (PDF) relating to its proposed condos behind North Street. Kohl is doing this project under the business names Northern Avenue Homes, Inc. and Tofino Associates, Inc. In the application, Kohl asserts there are no existing or potential vernal pools on the development site. Below are the […]

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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 […]

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