Gazette Guest Column: “The luxury of saving a single tree”

We enjoyed Chivas Sandage’s guest column in the March 15-16 Gazette. She writes: The luxury of saving a single tree …Through the years I’ve had relationships with several remarkable trees, green spaces and wooded areas. Fascinated by Julia Hill-Butterfly, I followed her work closely for years. In recent years, I had the chance to write […]

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Vernal Pool Assessment Protocol for Wetlands Off North Street

Here are excerpts from the Vernal Pool Assessment Protocol (PDF, 204KB) prepared by LEC Environmental Consultants for Kohl Construction. Kohl needs to assess the probable vernal pools on its property off North Street before attempting to proceed with its plans to build 26 condo units in the area. Northampton’s Conservation Commission approved this protocol on […]

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April 29: Second General Public Forum for Residents of Northampton and the Valley

We are pleased to publicize this announcement from Pioneer Valley Guildhouse: If you could tell 100 residents of Northampton one thing, what would it be? General Public Forum For residents of Northampton and the Valley (Sponsored by the Pioneer Valley Guildhouse and City Councilor Michael Bardsley) Tuesday, April 29, 6pm-9pmJackson Street School, Cafeteria (120 Jackson […]

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News Coverage of Lawsuit vs. Kohl Construction

Here are excerpts from local newspaper reports on the lawsuit between Kohl Construction and several abutters in the North Street neighborhood. The abutters dispute Kohl’s title and rights-of-way in portions of his land between North Street and the new bike trail… The Republican, “Residents fight condo project”, 3/14/08 Kohl’s project was a frequent reference point […]

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Conservation Commission Approves Vernal Pool Assessment Protocol on Kohl Property

Despite the uncertainty of titles within Kohl Construction’s property off North Street, Northampton’s Conservation Commission voted tonight to approve a Vernal Pool Assessment Protocol for this property. Between March 15 and June 1, LEC Environmental Consultants (LEC), a firm hired by Kohl, will establish monitoring stations around the probable vernal pool area and visit the site […]

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Northampton Residents Sue Developer Douglas Kohl to Resolve Questions of Title and Rights-of-Way

Press ReleaseFor Immediate ReleaseContact: Brad Shimel, Esq., 413-586-3480Northampton Residents Sue Developer Douglas Kohl to Resolve Questions of Title and Rights-of-WayNorthampton, MA, March 13, 2008: A group of neighbors living near a proposed 26-unit condominium project on undeveloped land off North Street have filed a lawsuit with the Land Court in Boston challenging the developer’s ownership […]

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Final Sustainable Northampton Plan Now Ready to View

The Northampton Planning Department has released the final version of the Sustainable Northampton Plan. This version includes pictures. You may download it here (PDF, 1.75MB).While the pictures make the report look more handsome, we were disappointed that they don’t do more to clarify the text. The part of the Plan that would benefit most from […]

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Northampton Redoubt: Videos and photographs of a walking tour of North Street Northampton’s Mill Yard Brook and vernal pools

Daryl LaFleur kindly granted us permission to reprint his article from today’s Northampton Redoubt. If you use Firefox and the videos don’t play, please try viewing this page with Internet Explorer.Sunday, March 09, 2008Videos and photographs of a walking tour of North Street Northampton’s Mill Yard Brook and vernal poolsDouglas Kohl granted me permission to […]

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Kohl Goes Before Conservation Commission on March 13 to Discuss Vernal Pool Assessment Protocol

All those concerned about the fate of the North Street woods and wetlands are encouraged to attend the following public hearing. Kohl Construction’s proposed 26-unit condo project will encroach within 35 feet of the wetlands. These wetlands, centered around Millyard Brook, are suspected to contain one or more vernal pools. The Conservation Commission plans to evaluate […]

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Model Ordinance Provisions for Conservation Subdivision Design: Give Wetlands Their Space

Randall Arendt presents Model Ordinance Provisions for Conservation Subdivision Design in “Growing Greener: Conservation Subdivision Design”, an article published in Planning Commissioners Journal, Winter 1999. This model ordinance underscores just how far Northampton’s new Wetlands Ordinance, which encourages development to within 10 feet of wetlands in the 15% of the city that is most built-up, […]

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