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Application Comments 2008http://commcapapp.dcc.state.ma.us/Scorecard.asp?AppID=728&cboCity=214 main uid – Northampton pw- TON214NN uid - wayne pw – northampton 2006 Commitment item #1: “CPA adopted and "Northampton Community Preservation Committee," formed in 2007. Currently drafting Evaluation and Funding Criteria for projects. Meetings are public, and minutes and drafts available at our website http://www.northamptonma.gov/opd/” 1. No Comments Needed 1.a Under the Policies and Objectives section of Goal 1, of E.O. 418 we committed to “Encourage redevelopment of Round House Parking Lot downtown to create mixed use development while preserving or expanding the number of parking spaces.” On July 26, 2006, the City accepted Pioneer Valley Hotel Group’s bid to develop the site. The mixed-use, infill project, worth $xx million, will expand Pulaski Park, build a 100+ room hotel, and add xxx additional parking spaces. Additionally, $2 million is being spent on cleaning up the site’s brown-field. 2. No Comments Needed. 3. Our mixed-use district is outlined in Northampton Zoning Section 350 Attachment I – Table of Use Regulations. CB, GB, NB, and HB are all mixed-use business districts that allow any amount of residential above the first floor. PV is a planned village district allowing (and requiring) mixed use. URC is a mixed-use residential district allowing extensive low- traffic commercial uses. EU is mixed-use institutional education use and residential district. Attached is our most recent zoning map demonstrating the mixed-use districts. 3a. Transit Pulse Point within CB for nine bus routes providing 146 stops per day. Routes are both regional and local, served by the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, the Franklin Regional Transit Authority and, less then 5 minutes walk, is Peter Pan Bus Lines. Several new developments are within 1000 feet of this TOD, including 6 new affordable housing units, a $2 million brown field cleanup, public park expansion (Pulaski Park) and a new 100+ room hotel. See Section 350-6.7, 350-10.1, 350-10.10 and 350 Attachment I – Table of Use Regulations, of Northampton’s Zoning. 3b. Issued permits for 6 new affordable housing units within the EU district at 74 State Street, January 2006. On the same block, at 21 State Street, we issued permit for new construction in the CB district of a 7920 sq. ft., 2-story building, October 31, 2006. 4. Northampton’s zoning allows ADUs by right, up to 900 square feet, in a single family home. The zoning allows detached accessory units by special permit. See Section 350-6.7, 350-10.1, 350-10.10 and 350 Attachment I – Table of Use Regulations, of Northampton’s Zoning. 4a. Of the three ADU permits issued since July 1, 2006, the most recent was issued August 3, 2007, for 243 Park Hill Road. 5. Northampton Zoning Section 350 Attachment I – Table of Use Regulations, allows multi-family homes by right in our Urban Residential C Zoning District. 5a. Northampton Zoning Section 350 Attachment I – Table of Use Regulations, allows multi-family homes of 4 or more units by right in our Urban Residential C Zoning District, provided they do not exceed 3 stories OR are townhouse style. 6. Zoning allows cluster residential and open space residential development in nearly all residential areas. Additionally, clustering is allowed in some commercial and mixed-use areas. See 350 Attachment I - Table of Use Regulations. 6a. Cluster residential development includes a bonus density for affordable housing. See zoning: § 350-10.5. Open space residential development. 6b. Orien Ridge Condominiums is a 90 unit, green cluster (potentially LEED Certified) development that the City of Northampton approved under an Open Space Cluster Special Permit (zoning 350-10.5 Open Space), which was approved February 21, 2007. The units will be clustered on 8 acres of a 44.3-acre site, which abuts major conservation lands and a former quarry that is being developed for a grocery co-op. 33% of the units are affordable under our Residential Incentive Overlay (URB densities). 26 acres were donated to the City of Northampton’s Conservation Commission and protected as open space, as outlined under Article 97 and relevant amendments of the State Constitution. Please see attached map overview of 360 King Street. 7. Section 350 Attachment I - Table of Use Regulations, 350-10.5 and 350-17 of the Northampton zoning ordinance authorized TDR from our Farms Forests and Rivers zoning overlay (sending zone) to our Planned Village district (receiving zone). 7a. Not Qualified. 8. EO418 outlines our Housing Plan. Attached is the cover page, table of contents, and executive summary of the plan unanimously adopted December 2003. 8a. 5-year Housing Goal from E.O. 418 Housing Certification is 10 per year. The City of Northampton far exceeded its stated 10 year housing goal of 51 units. 63 units were built just in FY 06. See attached list of permits issued for FY 06. 9. IZ. The three provisions of our zoning are sections 350-10.5. Open Space Residential Development, 350-10.11. Residential Incentive Development Overlay District; 350-10.5. and Northampton’s Subdivision Regulations. Density bonuses are offered for accessory units, and some waivers are offered in exchange for affordable housing units. 9a. 10. 10a. 11. The City of Northampton has taken extraordinary steps to promote and ensure Affordable Housing via outreach, analysis, provisional by-laws, affirmative marketing, and consulting. The Community Partnership run by the cit is an outreach program that works with developers that promotes mixed-use development. By way of analysis we have attached the “Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing,” conducted in 2006 prepared by the Mass., Fair Housing Center (formerly The Housing Discrimination Project) was adopted and accepted by the Planning Board in July 2006. And through our CDBG we offer funds to aid in the construction and preservation of affordable housing. 12. Not eligible. See http://www.mass.gov/dhcd/components/SCP/PProd/plans.htm 13. Northampton has provided funding for several housing rehabilitation projects each year. Several recent examples are attached. 14. Paradise Pond Apartments is a 12-unit Transitional Housing (ie, formerly homeless) project. Building permit was issued August 12, 2005 and is currently occupied at capacity. Funding came from two sources, CDGB and HUD assistance. We also issued a permit for 15-S.R.O. units for women at 180 Earl Street. Funding source was also from CDGB. May need $ amounts 15. Downtown brownfield cleanup and hotel infill development. This past summer (2007) we directed a $2 million cleanup of former Manufactured Gas Plant site to make way for a major infill project: a $16 million, 100+ hotel, off-Main Street municipal parking (300+ spaces), and a public park expansion. The hotel development (which includes the almost completed brownfield cleanup) is centrally located in our downtown-shopping and public transportation districts. See attached economic and development summary. 16. The City of Northampton aggressively pursues state and federal grants for redevelopment. In September of 2005 we were awarded $50,000 by the EOEA, Brownfields Program, which was used to investigate a former Manufactured Gas Plant waste site. The site, now being developed (see question 15, above), is located in the heart of our downtown, and adjacent to Pulaski Park. 17. 18. 19. On June 20, 2006 City Council approved the conversion of 120 acres in the Turkey Hill area to permanently protected land under Article 97. Fee acquisition of the land was made possible with cooperation from the Trustees of Reservations, Massachusetts Audubon Society, Town of Westhampton, and the broader community. This property, just off Turkey Hill Road in western Northampton is a key wildlife corridor and contains two vernal pools. The purpose of the land acquisition is to preserve the existing wooded state of the property for wildlife and the enjoyment of future generations via passive recreation. 1. A ribbon cutting for the new “Green” Northampton Senior Center at 67 Conz Street, was held July 22, 2007. LEED Certification is forthcoming. We are assured Silver status or higher. 2. Our Methane Turbine recaptures methane gas from our municipal landfill and generates up to 800kw. 3. In July 2006, we installed a 10,000kw solar array on John F. Kennedy Middle School. A Data Acquisition Module for weather data monitoring is installed as well. 4. DPW burns bio-diesel B20 in all diesel-fueled vehicles. This started September 11, 2006. In FY ’07 DPW used 8400 gallons, as of August 8, 2007, for FY ’08, 1400 gallons. Bought locally from F.L. Roberts & Co., Inc. 21. Section 350.12.2 of our zoning establishes light standards that result in lighting systems that are designed to conserve energy and resources. This section follows the guidance of International Dark-Sky Association and the New England Light Pollution Advisory Group. 22. The City of Northampton revised its Consolidated Watershed Resource Protection Plan in September 2004. The cover page and table of contents for the plan are attached. For security reasons, an executive summary is not attached. In brief, the plan describes the physical and hydrological characteristics of two current use reservoirs and a third potential future reservoir. This is followed by a review of activities and potential risks to the watersheds as well as control of these activities via regulatory and management actions. The plan includes data on water quality monitoring and recommendations for future actions and management as well as an emergency response plan. 23. Our Watershed Protection District, section 350-14, and Water Supply Protection District, section 350-15, afford additional protection to water resources in the City of Northampton. Uses in these districts are restricted via permitted (section 350-14.3) and prohibited (350-15.4) uses. Additionally, a minimum lot size requirement of 80,000 square feet together with a maximum lot coverage requirement of 15%, in the Water Supply Protection District are more restrictive than the otherwise allowable smaller lot size and up to 40% maximum lot coverage. 24. 1. Our Water Conservation outreach encourages all new buildings to utilize cisterns. One example is the major hotel project downtown, with 100+ rooms, the building will use a cistern. 2. We also sell directly to the public rain barrels. 3. We have a leak detection system for municipal buildings. 4. And we encourage 100% of homes in Northampton to have Water Meters. 5. Our master plan is available to the public here http://www.northamptonma.gov/dpw/Water/ 25. City Council created an agricultural commission on December 15, 2005. The Mayor appointed a commission in 2006. 26. Stewardship plans were prepared by Michael Mauri in 1998 and Karl Davies in September 2000 for different sections of Saw Mill Hills conservation land. 27. The Right-to-Farm ordinance (attached) created December 15, 2005, encourages the pursuit of agriculture, promotes agriculture-based economic opportunities, and protects farmlands within the City of Northampton by allowing agricultural uses and related activities to function with minimal conflict with abutters and City agencies. 28. Northampton's Special Conservancy zoning, Section 350, Attachment 1 and section 350-13, prohibits new development, except for improvements to existing buildings, in an area that contains approximately 2,300 acres of farmland thereby preserving that farmland as the highest and best use possible. 29. In 2006 and 2007 the City of Northampton extended its Rail Trail system by approximately two miles. Furthermore, the City has recently advertised and opened bids on two additional segments totaling three miles. The City continues to acquire land to meet the goal of a 20-mile network that will connect to village centers in Northampton, Easthampton, and Amherst. Attached is the Northampton Transportation Plan--Policies that describes our vision and commitment to safe and sustainable transportation alternatives. 30. There are three western approaches to Main Street in the heart of downtown Northampton. Northampton’s Transportation and Parking Commission and the DPW have worked together over the years to calm traffic and increase alternative modes of transportation in this area. On South Street/Route 10 an existing median with texturized concrete (circa 1998) was painted and widened in August 2006. Bike lanes on both sides of the street were also constructed at this time. On West Street/Route 66 the street was narrowed in 2004 by adding a row for parked cars. On Elm Street/Route 9 bike lanes, curb extensions, and a cross walk with embedded ground lights were installed in 2005. Since these improvements have been made the City has received far fewer traffic complaints and has witnessed increased bicycle use in the area. 31. Regional. Joint land acquisition for conservation with the Town of West Hampton and we co-hold a Conservation Restriction with them. (RE: Turkey Hill, January 2007). Zoning. Planned Village at former State Hospital site re-zoned for mixed-use. 350-6.3. #C. Reduction of dimensional and density regulations for land donations to the City of Northampton, or for approved tax-exempt conservation organizations, or for open space and conservation purposes. Special permits are issued in such instances. Commercial Corridor standards, as outlined by 350-11.16 #G in the form of a performance guarantee (RE: King Street commercial development). Recycling. Recycling per capita is 47%. http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/priorities/munirate.pdf. And we have a Pay at You Throw program. Historical. We adopted a Demolition Delay bylaw in April 2005. Affordable housing. Development agreement with Smith College that creates several hundred units, of which 26 are currently built.