Ward 3 City Councilor Angela Plassmann announces at her website today:
The Chamber of Commerce has proposed a group of zoning changes to help revitalize King Street (PDF). Some of these changes would authorize more uses without a Special Permit, including hotels. Other changes would reduce the setbacks between commercial areas and residential neighborhoods. Your input is needed at these forums. -Angela
See also:
Video: Zoning Revisions Committee Continues to Deliberate King Street, 7/21/10
These charts summarize the zoning changes the Chamber would like to see (download the charts as a high-resolution PDF).
Video: Zoning Revisions Committee Examines King Street Proposals, 6/30/10
Video: Chamber Presents “Rezoning King Street” to Planning Board (6/13/10)
Potential areas of controversy include:
- Allowing more uses without a Special Permit, including hotels. A recent proposal to build a Hilton Garden Inn downtown was extremely controversial. One way to address the public’s desire for good design would be robust infill design standards.
- Reducing the setbacks between commercial areas and residential neighborhoods
- Stormwater management problems caused by an increase in impervious surface
Download Envisioning Sustainable Northampton – Final Notre Dame Studio Presentation Book
Envisioning Sustainable Northampton: Notre Dame Urban Design Presentation – Video and Handout
Envisioning Sustainable Northampton: Notre Dame Urban Design Presentation – Slides