Here is a complete YouTube video of the 3/28/11 meeting of Northampton’s Solid Waste Reduction and Management Task Force. This recording was made by Craig Odgers and is 3 hours 7 minutes long. This was the last meeting of the task force before it presents its recommendations to the Board of Public Works.See also:Videos: Solid […]
Video, Slides, Handouts: Forum on Budget Gap
Here is a complete YouTube video of the March 31 public forum entitled “What we can do to close the budget gap”. This forum was sponsored by the Northampton City Council/School Committee Conference Committee and Yes!Northampton. The video is 1 hour 28 minutes long and was recorded by Adam Cohen.Mayor Clare Higgins, Representative Peter Kocot […]
Video: Zoning Revisions Committee Reviews Dimensional and Design Standards Proposals
Here is a complete YouTube video of the 3/30/11 meeting of Northampton’s Zoning Revisions Committee. This video is 1 hour 54 minutes long and was recorded by Adam Cohen.The committee decided to recommend more lenient rules for home occupations and to codify rules for urban chickens. These will next be reviewed by the Planning Board.The […]
New York Times: Non-Native Species Contribute to “Mother Nature’s Melting Pot”
In the March 17 Gazette, Alexandra Dawson cautioned against well-intentioned efforts to “improve” wetlands, as opposed to giving them adequate buffer zones and leaving them undisturbed. An opinion piece by Hugh Raffles in the April 2 New York Times underscores this sentiment, cautioning against indiscriminate attempts to eradicate non-native species: Mother Nature’s Melting Pot …just […]
Video: Board of Public Works Authorizes Lower Landfill Tipping Fees
Here is a complete YouTube video of the 3/23/11 meeting of Northampton’s Board of Public Works. The board votes to authorize lower tipping fees at the municipal landfill to better compete with other waste disposal options in the region. One large customer in particular, Duseau Trucking, has virtually stopped using the landfill. The Department of […]
Making Smart Growth Better: Critiques, Guidelines, Cautions
As the Zoning Revisions Committee discusses what infill and Smart Growth should mean for Northampton’s urban residential neighborhoods (preview the ZRC’s proposals for these neighborhoods and come to their March 30 meeting), let’s review some insights from other cities: Washington: “Infill Development: Strategies for Shaping Livable Neighborhoods” (June 1997) Cities seeking investment in older urban neighborhoods […]
Northampton Reprecincting Committee Announced
Just released from the Mayor’s Office today: Memo Reprecincting Committee 29 March 2011 Membership of Reprecincting Committee 29 March 2011
See Zoning Revisions Proposals for URA, URB and URC Ahead of March 30 Meeting
Here are rezoning proposals (summary and details) to be considered by the Zoning Revisions Committee at its March 30 meeting (7-9pm, City Council Chambers). The proposals aim to increase density moderately while preserving the character of Northampton’s traditional neighborhoods. We urge concerned citizens to attend the meeting.The proposals below have been suggested by individual members of […]
Videos: Solid Waste Task Force, March 21, 2011
Here is a complete YouTube video of the 3/21/11 meeting of Northampton’s Solid Waste Reduction and Management Task Force. This recording was made by Craig Odgers and is 2 hours 40 minutes long. The task force expects its March 28 meeting (6:30pm, JFK Middle School) to be its last before it presents its recommendations to […]
Video and Minutes: Solid Waste Task Force, March 14, 2011
Here is a complete YouTube video of the 3/14/11 meeting of Northampton’s Solid Waste Reduction and Management Task Force. The attendees discuss the public’s comments from the March 7 and March 11 solid waste forums. The time for the task force to make recommendations is drawing near. This recording was made by Craig Odgers and is […]