May 13, 2013 Joint public hearing
The Northampton Planning Board
Minutes of Meeting
May 13, 2013
City of Northampton Council Chambers, 212 Main St., Northampton, MA
Members Present: Time
Chair, Mark Sullivan
Vice Chair, Jennifer Dieringer
Francis “Frandy” Johnson
Stephen Gilson
Debin Bruce
John Lutz
Karla Youngblood, Associate Member
Ann DeWitt Brooks Associate Member
Staff:
Planning Director, Wayne Feiden
Senior Planner, Carolyn Misch
7:00 P.M.
David Murphy, Ward 5 Councilor opened the joint public hearing with Planning Board and
City Council ordinance Committee( Maureen Carney and Jesse Adams sitting with Murphy for
Ordinance)
Staff presented all changes proposed for the URA, B, C districts in PowerPoint. Misch also noted that the
recommendation would be to continue all ordinances so that a proposal by Councilor Freeman-Daniels
could be incorporated after it has been properly advertised.
Richard Greene, Round Hill Road suggested that the changes should be put to citywide referendum and
not decided upon by City Council. He emphasized that increases in density were not appropriate.
Councilor Freeman Daniels noted that there was a quorum of councilors in the audience.
Adam Cohen, North Street, spoke in favor of the proposed changes by Councilor freeman Daniels, but
suggested the special permit threshold should be 5 units not 7 units. He indicated that parking is a
problem and that tree canopy is a concern. The City should be conducting tree preservation surveys.
Deb Jacobs, 82 Grove Ave said there is a conflict between tree canopy and solar access and one shouldn’t
dominate over the other.
Claudia Lefko 40 Valley St said her neighborhood was the edge of downtown but rural and should be
treated differently.
Linda Rham, Olive Street spoke in support of the changes describing how it would affect her
neighborhood.
Janet Gross, 38 Round Hill Rd asked how the zoning related to the Sustainability Plan and it should be
more about green building standards. She suggested the plan needed reviewing.
Deb Jacobs asked why it mattered that lots in URA don’t conform? She asked about design standards and
stated concern about impact they might have on creativity.
The Board discussed further the details of the standards.
Merle Norman raised concerns about the reduction in lot size and whether it only served real estate
interests.
Jim Nash stated his opinion that the URC changes didn’t provide sufficient safeguards to the existing
neighborhood
Lind Meurle 90 Pomeroy Terrace spoke in favor of the changes and described how it would help the
neighborhoods and development pattern.
Richard Greene stated that he thought there were some positive aspects of the changes but more density
is bad.
Nick Gross asked questions about mix of neighborhoods.
Mack Everett 40 Valley St said the neighborhood crowding is not good and indicated there were plenty of
bad examples . Sidewalks need to be upgraded
Kate Euhlin, Henry Street spoke out against changes for this neighborhood
Tom Holden, henry Street spoke against changes.
Claudia Lefko suggested Henry Street should be taken out of URC.
Councilor Freeman-Daniels suggested that the amendment requiring special permit will help address
some concerns by residents.
Jim Nash voiced concern over the possibility of 17 units on a property on Henry Street.
There was no public comment on changes to section 6.8.
Upon motion by Debin Bruce and second by John Lutz, the Board voted unanimously to continue to May
23 at 7:30 PM
Ordinance Committee voted unanimously to continue their hearing to June 10 at 6 PM.
Adjourn 8:30