Comparison of Development OptionsComparison of Development Options—Village at Hospital Hill versus Alternative Sprawl
Issue Sprawl Development Village Development Market Rate/Affordable Housing Balance NO—primarily more expensive home YES—mix of housing opportunities for all incomes Jobs/Housing Balance NO—only
housing, residents more likely to have to leave Northampton for jobs and drive further YES—balance Development pays its own way (tax base) NO---primarily residential development with
property tax not covering cost of schools and services YES--- commercial and industrial uses (along with protected private open space) are the only uses that bring in more in taxes than
they cost in services Transportation Mitigation LIMITED--- Development pays some share of mitigation, but not full costs
Pays some incremental % of costs
Does not fix existing deficiencies YES—development is paying its share of all necessary transportation improvements
Fund 100% of all needed signals (3)
Fund 100% of needed signal retiming (2)
Fix existing deficiencies in road
Earle street reconstruction
Fix dangerous Earle/Grove intersection
Fix failing Earle/Route 10 intersection
Calm traffic on Grove Street Workability of the community NO—Most new trips from development are by car, and development is not pedestrian friendly except for within neighborhoods YES—More
trips will be on foot, within neighborhoods, to open space, to some commercial, and many of the trips to downtown Local control of development decisions (MGL 40B) NO—Most new development
is market rate units, which is reducing the percentage of affordable housing in Northampton. If percent drops below 10%, then state could overrule local decisions to deny permits to
poorly conceived affordable housing projects. YES—In creating more affordable units, Northampton will have a small margin of safety above the 10% threshold where the state can overrule
local permits for affordable housing.