Here is a 7-minute YouTube excerpt from last night’s meeting of the Zoning Revisions Committee, recorded by Adam Cohen. It is observed that in zoning district Urban Residential C (URC)–the dense neighborhoods surrounding downtown Northampton–perhaps 40% of the existing single-family homes are “non-conforming”, and the percentage for multi-family homes is even higher. These homes don’t meet today’s zoning requirements […]
“Save the Chesterfield Road Dam” Seeks Your Support
Save the Chesterfield Road Dam would like your support: Dear Friends, Please help the Community Preservation Committee to vote yes in support of the Upper Roberts Meadow Dam! Send a brief email to the CPC and City Council Members to ask for their support of the application before the CPC (which the City Council will then […]
Christian Science Monitor: “How to plan better for New England floods”
The April 3 Christian Science Monitor uses the occasion of the recent flooding along the New England coast to look at climate trends: How to plan better for New England floods As flood waters recede in rain-soaked New England, March’s record-smashing storms highlight the need for planners in the region to place an increased emphasis […]
April 21: Conservancy of Sheldon Field, Montview Farms and Meadows – Presentation
The Ward 3 Neighborhood Association makes the following announcement: Subject: Conservancy of Sheldon Field, Montview Farms and Meadows Date: Wednesday April 21, 2010 Time: 7PM to 9PM Place: Bridge Street School Cafeteria Robert A. Levite, Esq. from Natural Resources & Environmental Conservation at UMASS Extension will talk about forming a conservancy, holding a Conservation Restriction […]
Mayor: Conz Street Slated for Reconstruction This Year, North Street for Next Year
The website of Ward 3 City Councilor Angela Plassmann publishes an April 12 letter from Mayor Clare Higgins about plans to reconstruct Conz Street and North Street. Councilor Plassmann had conveyed her constituents’ concerns about the condition of North Street to the Mayor. The DPW will be using almost all of this year’s Chapter 90 allocation to […]
April 14: Ward 6 Community Meeting on Fire Safety
See also: Video: Neighborhood Watch Program Introduced (2/25/10) Gazette: “Ward 3 residents form neighborhood watch” (1/7/10)
Railroad Bridge Public Art – Get Your Opinion In
The Northampton Arts Council seeks your opinion on new art to replace the aging mural on the Route 9 railroad bridge: Railroad Bridge Public Art Update A gateway into the City will be the site of a new piece of public art to welcome people to Northampton. In recent years, Bob Reckman, Ward 3 City Councilor […]
Video: Councilor Plassmann Presses Conservation Commission on Disposal of Manure from Three County Fairgrounds
Northampton’s Conservation Commission held a long hearing on April 1 to discuss the redevelopment plans at the Three County Fairgrounds (see plans at Office of Planning and Development website). We’ll make a complete video of this hearing available within a few days at our blip.tv channel. In the meantime, here is a short YouTube excerpt where Ward […]
Springfield Republican: “Northeast seeing more, fiercer rainstorms in line with global warming predictions, study says”
In 2007, the Northampton City Council approved a new Wetlands Ordinance that, in the name of infill, encourages developers to encroach closer to wetlands in many in-town locations. Climate-wise, this move is badly timed, as the frequency and severity of “precipitation events” in Massachusetts is on the rise. The April 5 Republican reports: The Northeast is seeing more […]
Zoning Revisions Committee Releases Synthesis of Comments from March 17 Forum
Northampton’s Zoning Revisions Committee has released a synthsis of comments from its public forum on March 17. Download the full-size PDF. See the slides from the forum. See the video. The committee will next meet on April 7, 7-9pm in City Hall Room 10 (second floor, enter via the back door). See also: Video and Slides: Joel Russell […]