Sovereign Builders Buys Parcels of Land from Tofino Associates

It looks like the woods behind North Street may be back in play. The parcels include View Avenue, the land behind it, and two parcels on Northern Avenue. Recently recorded deeds (PDFs below) show that Sovereign Builders of Westfield acquired these parcels from Tofino Associates back in February: 26-28 Northern Avenue 56 Northern Avenue View […]

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Gazette: “Neighbor files lawsuit over Dewey Court project in Northampton”

“A three-story apartment building with 15 residential units is proposed for 34 Dewey Court — the end of the dead-end street — but in August, a neighbor filed an appeal in state Land Court in response to the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals approving one of several permits the developer needs from the city. “Currently, the 1.3-acre […]

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Presentation and Video: Contemporary Northampton in 2030

Northampton Senior Land Use Planner Carolyn Misch presented “Contemporary Northampton in 2030” at Historic Northampton on July 16. This YouTube recording was made by Ruth McGrath. Contemporary Northampton in 2030 See also: Sustainable Northampton Comprehensive Plan Download Envisioning Sustainable Northampton – Final Notre Dame Studio Presentation Book

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Video: Citizens in Wards 3 & 4 Express Concerns about Proposed New Guidelines for Larger Residential Developments

Councilors Ryan O’Donnell (Ward 3) and Gina-Louise Sciarra (Ward 4) hosted residents in City Hall on May 5 to discuss proposed large-development zoning with Wayne Feiden, Director of Planning and Sustainability. While some residents favored increased density in downtown Northampton, others expressed concerns about congestion, parking shortages, and ambiguities in the zoning language that developers […]

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Letter to Gazette from Jim Nash: Northampton zoning package lacks design standards

Jim Nash, a former member of Northampton’s Zoning Revisions Committee, has an excellent letter in today’s Gazette. Here is an excerpt: What is missing from this zoning package are design standards, regulations that ensure that when development occurs it adheres to our urban streetscape and neighborhood sensibilities. Such regulations are even more important for larger […]

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Letter to Gazette: Northampton’s new zoning proposal lacks safeguards

Today’s Daily Hampshire Gazette includes this letter from NSNA member Adam Cohen. Links have been added for convenient reference. To the editor: The new zoning proposed for Northampton’s urban residential neighborhoods may well give flexibility to owners of one- to four-family homes, but it also gives too much latitude to developers of larger projects. Bad […]

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Video: Planning Board Advances Urban Residential Zoning Proposals

Northampton’s Planning Board approved zoning changes for urban residential districts URA, URB and URC. The package includes an amendment to require Special Permits for developments of 7+ units. The proposal will next be revisited by the City Council’s Ordinance Committee at its June 10 meeting. Here is a YouTube video of the Planning Board meeting […]

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Residents Express Concerns about Rezoning at Ordinance/Planning Board Meeting

Here is a YouTube video of the complete May 13 meeting of Northampton’s Committee on Elections, Rules, Ordinances, Orders & Claims, followed by a joint meeting of the committee with the Planning Board. Here is the agenda of these meetings. This video was recorded by Ruth McGrath. The joint meeting with the Planning Board begins […]

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Atlantic Cities: “16 Rules for ‘Smarter’ Smart Growth”

This Atlantic Cities article is a good read, especially item 5: Respect neighborhood character & identity. “Lack of identity or a negative identity makes increasing neighborhood density difficult. A development that challenges or changes a community’s identity architecturally or in terms of land use can undermine the very thing that attracts residents to the neighborhood. […]

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May 13 Public Hearing on Proposed Zoning Changes in Residential A, B, C Neighborhoods

From Northampton’s Office of Planning and Sustainability: Proposed zoning amendments in the residential districts have been submitted to City Council. These changes reflect the ongoing conversation about modifying regulations to reflect the existing neighborhood districts surrounding Florence Center, downtown Northampton and neighborhoods in between. The official proposal for public hearing has been modified from the […]

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