1 Garfield informal review 2016-05-09City of Northampton
Massachusetts
DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING INSPECTIONS
212 Main Street ● Municipal Building
Northampton, MA 01060
Thomas Michel
P.O. Box 60657
65 North Main Street
Florence, MA 01062
May 9, 2016
Dear Mr. Michel,
I have reviewed the plans you submitted on May 5th for a single family dwelling at 1 Garfield
Avenue in Florence. This submission does not include enough information to allow me to determine
with certainty that I can approve this design.
Most important for initial zoning approval is a dimensioned floor plan of the house and a detailed
plot plan showing the location of the house on the lot.
You have stated that the house will fit within the required setbacks (10’ front, 10’ sides and 15’
rear) but you need to submit a plot plan with both house size and actual setback distances shown. A
dimensioned floor plan will further confirm the house size.
This proposal is similar to the two you submitted in November 2015. As with those plans, I think
this proposal will work but the plans you have submitted don’t show the degree of detail needed for an
unqualified approval.
There are some specific aspects of this proposal that may not work. It appears that a wall on the
north side of the courtyard extends east from the house to the front/side lot line. That would not be
allowed if it is, in fact, a wall. A wall would need to meet the 10’ setback. It appears, based on the
information you’ve provided, that the open space (lot area without impervious cover) is a little less than
the 40% required by zoning. I think more detailed plans would address these concerns. Also, the rear of
the property is near an isolated wetland. It is likely that Conservation Commission approval is required
for any work within the 100’ buffer (indicated on the plans). The commission may already have
addressed this situation; you should check with Sarah LaValley in the planning department.
Feel free to contact me if you have more questions.
Respectfully,
Louis Hasbrouck
Building Commissioner
City of Northampton
(413) 587-1240
lhasbrouck@city.northampton.ma.us
cc Office of Planning and Sustainability