Video: School Committee Meeting of February 12; Presentation of Strategic Plan

Here is a complete Vimeo video of the School Committee meeting of February 12. The video is 2 hours and 46 minutes long and was recorded by Lachlan Ziegler. The Northampton Public Schools Strategic Plan (PDF, 192 KB) is presented and discussed during 0:32:40-1:37:37. Below are selections that relate to the possible closing of an […]

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March 10: Zoning Revisions Committee to Meet; Our Suggestions

Northampton’s Office of Planning and Development is circulating this announcement: The Zoning Revisions Committee (advisory to the Planning Board) will meet Tuesday March 10 at 7 PM in City Council Chambers. Please Contact Carolyn Misch at cmisch@northamptonma.gov for further information. The Zoning Revisions Committee is charged with recommending zoning changes that implement the Sustainable Northampton […]

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“Degraded” Wetlands Can Get a Lot Worse

Over the past year or so, Kohl Construction and even some members of the Conservation Commission have noted that the wetlands and buffer zone off North Street are “degraded with masonry and other construction and road building debris, as well as invasive plant species”. While it’s true this area is not perfect, it’s still an […]

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U.S. home price drop at record pace in December

Reuters reports today: From the housing market peak in the second quarter of 2006, home prices have plummeted 26.7 percent… Yale professor Robert Shiller says the declines are not finished. Tech Ticker paraphrased him yesterday as saying: Despite the 25 percent nationwide decline since the 2007 peak, U.S. house prices have still only fallen halfway […]

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Kohl Releases Latest Condo Proposal for February 26 Conservation Commission Hearing

Kohl Construction has released its latest proposal (PDF, 1.2MB) for condos off North Street. Despite concerns about the number of units expressed by members of both the Conservation Commission and the Planning Board, Kohl has eliminated just two units relative to its previous proposal (from 25 to 23). Here is a comparison of the latest […]

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February 24: Ag Forum to Address Illegal Dumping in Meadows

Councilor David Narkewicz is circulating the following announcement:         Northampton Agricultural Commission Public Forum Tuesday February 24, 2009 7:00-9:00 PM Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School Library Main Building, 80 Locust Street, Northampton AGENDA 7:00-7:10       Introduction to the City of Northampton Agricultural Commission by John Omasta, Chair 7:10-7:30     […]

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Video: Best Practices Forum of February 11; Last Call for Feedback on Recommendations

Here is a Vimeo video of the Best Practices Forum held on February 11. The forum took place in the JFK Middle School Community Room. This video is 2 hours 13 minutes long and was recorded by Ken Mitchell. It is complete except for a few seconds at the beginning and two brief interruptions (a […]

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Video: Conservation Commission Meeting of 2/12/09; Meeting Protocol; Subcommittee for Northampton Wetlands Ordinance Revisions

Here is an excerpt from the Conservation Commission meeting of February 12. This Vimeo video is 46 minutes long and was recorded by Javier Luengo. Topics covered in the video include: Discussion on Conservation Commission meeting protocol Video: 0:00:00-0:33:47 This discussion has a ‘best practices’ flavor–how to run meetings in a clear, consistent and efficient […]

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The Role and Function of Forest Buffers in the Chesapeake Bay Basin for Nonpoint Source Management

This 1993 research paper (PDF, 156KB) underscores the value of the North Street woods for water management and pollution control around Millyard Brook. Kohl Construction proposes to cut down many mature trees near the Millyard Brook wetlands to make way for a condo project. Highlights from the paper: “A mature forest can absorb as much […]

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March 2: Zero Lot Line Workshop

Citizens are urged to attend a Planning Department workshop on proposed changes to the zero-lot line rules. Here are the details, also available as a PDF (271KB): See also: Video: Planning Board and Ordinance Committee Discuss Zero Lot Line Changes, Traffic Mitigation Payments Some issues that arose during and after the [1/8/09] discussion include: 1:42:15-1:45:55… […]

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