42-180 and 42-179 and 42-181 and 42-182- Special Permit Amendment-2019-Habitat
www.pvhabitat.org ~ PO Box 60642 Florence, MA 01062 ~ 413-586-5430 ~ Page 1 of 2
February 14, 2019
City of Northampton Planning Board
210 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
Dear Planning Board,
Thank you for reviewing this special permit amendment application. The project has proceeded largely
as originally approved with only minor changes to the site plan. However, we would like you to
consider a waiver of tree replacement requirements per the updated 2018 significant tree bylaw.
Construction on lots 2, 3, & 4 is well underway. Lots 3 & 4 have modular homes specially designed to
reach a zero net energy goal and lot #2 will house a nearly identical home to the modulars that we will
be building on site. Permits have been issued for these three houses and projected HERS ratings are
attached. Each home has a footprint of approximately 600 sq ft and a finished floor area of 1,200 sq ft.
The homes on lots 2, 3 & 4 are a modern two story design with a low pitch roof facing the south.
The home on lot #1 is currently in design and we expect to apply for a building permit in 2019. This
house is being designed for energy efficiency and orientated for solar access – but a final determination
of the ability to meet zero net energy will not be made until the lot is cleared and the designs finalized.
The placement of the houses was fine-tuned to maximize solar access within the limited clearing area
established under the original permit. The driveway area to the south was critical for solar access as
well as clearing as much as possible to the east and west of the homes. I have attached a letter from our
solar installer PV Squared confirming that trees #7, #8, #9, #10, #12, #13, #14, #15 and #16 needed to
be cleared for solar access to the homes.
All homes in this development will be sold to low-income buyers earning less than 60% of the Area
Median Income and permanently protected through a deed restriction. A regulatory agreement between
Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity, the city of Northampton and DHCD has been recorded in the
registry of deeds to make this commitment to deed restricted affordability binding.
Thank you for considering the public benefit that making these affordable homes zero net energy will
provide. We believe that our request for a waiver is warranted, please let me know if you have any
questions.
In community,
Megan McDonough, Executive Director
Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity
megan@pvhabitat.org, 413-586-5430
www.pvhabitat.org ~ PO Box 60642 Florence, MA 01062 ~ 413-586-5430 ~ Page 2 of 2
Attachments:
- Tree replacement schedule (see below)
- Letter from PV Squared
- Projected HERS ratings by Power House
- Elevations of homes by Simple City Studios
- Solar array layout by PV Squared
- Site plan dated 9/28/18 by T Reynolds Engineering
Tree replacement schedule: For each inch of Diameter at Breast Height (BH) of the removed trees
there shall be no less than one-half inch of Caliper Diameter of replacement trees
Tree # lot # BH Diameter -
inches
cut for
solar
Adjusted BH
diameter inches
0 street 20+
1 4 26 26
2 4 30 30
3 4 24 24
4 4 26 26
5 4 30 30
6 4 21 21
7 4 24 yes
8 4 26 yes
9 2 32 yes
10 4 25 yes
11 3 28 28
12 4 23 yes
13 4 22 yes
14 3 24 yes
15 4 24 yes
16 4 28 yes
Total BH 413 185
Current replacement requirement (lots 2, 3 & 4): 413” BH = 206.5” Caliper Diameter replacement trees
With waiver: 185” BH = 92.5” caliper diameter of replacement trees
February 13, 2019
City of Northampton Planning Board
210 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
Dear Planning Board,
PV Squared is working with Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity to help them achieve their goal of
zero net energy for three homes on Glendale Rd. We have analyzed the solar shading and designed
the PV systems that will be installed on lots 2, 3 & 4 of this project. The very tall pine trees on this
site and the adjacent conservation land made this a challenging goal.
As shown on the site plan dated 9/28/18 by T Reynolds Engineering the clearing of trees #7, #8, #9,
#10, #12, #13, #14, #15 and #16 was critical to providing solar access for PV production for homes
on lots 2, 3 & 4. These trees are highlighted below – all to the south of the 3 homes.
PV Squared performed a solar evaluation at the subject properties on July 16, 2018 following com-
pletion of site clearing activities for the building lots. Prior to site development, the building lots
were fully forested primarily with mature white pines in excess of 100 feet tall. Maximum allowable
tree clearing under existing permitting requirements has been completed at building where the
proposed residences will be located. Solar access at these lots prior to tree clearing was 0%.
Based on solar access data obtained with a Solmetric Suneye after tree clearing, an aggregate annu-
al solar access of 70% for building sites at Lots 3 and 4 was achieved. Rooftop solar array capacities
for the residences are designed at 9.12 kW DC with estimated annual solar generation of about
7,200 kWh AC.
Sincerely,
Pioneer Valley Photovoltaics Cooperative
Daniel Gomez, Operations team
2' - 6"4' - 0"2' - 6"2' - 6"3' - 10"8' - 0"2' - 6"4' - 0"LEVEL 2
LEVEL 1
HARDIE
PANEL
9' - 6"10' - 8"21' - 0"TOP OF ROOF
4' - 0"2' - 6"4' - 0"3' - 10"2' - 6"8' - 0"2' - 6"3' - 0"LEVEL 2
LEVEL 1
HARDIE
PANEL
TOP OF ROOF
1' - 6"2' - 6"4' - 0"4' - 0"1' - 6"2' - 6"7' - 0"2' - 8"9' - 3 1/2"
1' - 6"
15' - 5 1/2"3' - 0"3' - 0"HARDIE
PANEL
21' - 0"44' - 4"4' - 0"4' - 0"2' - 6"2' - 0"3' - 0"
2' - 6"2' - 0"3' - 0"
3' - 0"6' - 8"2' - 0"3' - 0"4' - 0"4' - 0"2' - 0"3' - 0"2' - 0"2' - 0"2' - 0"2' - 0"4' - 0"4' - 1"3' - 0"
1' - 8"2' - 6"2' - 8"4' - 8"2' - 8"2' - 6"4' - 6"4' - 0"5' - 0"19' - 8"11' - 7"4' - 1"
1x6 CEDAR
BOARDS
HARDIE
PANEL
21' - 0"CLIENT
DRAWING
SCALE
SET
SIMPLE
CITY
STUDIO
ADDRESS
DRAWN BYDATE
SIMPLE CITY STUDIO LLC
857.225.2779 / 206.375.5126
Architecture Interiors & Planning
www.simplecitystudio.com
2 Juniper St Florence MA
STAMP CONSULTANTS PROJECT
1/8" = 1'-0"A105EXTERIOR
ELEVATIONS
Glendale Rd
Northampton MA PERMIT
PV Habitat for Humanity08/015/18 MTBAffordable Housing Dev.
1/8" = 1'-0"1 East
1/8" = 1'-0"2 West
1/8" = 1'-0"3 North
1/8" = 1'-0"4 South
548" roof53234" array184"1034"23"15"2412"15"2412"15"2412"3112"2"712"7 12"Plan ViewESTIMATED BILL OF MATERIALSPART: MAKE & MODEL NO:RAIL17' - Ironridge XR1008RAIL14' - Ironridge XR10016SPLICEIronridge XR10016BASEL-feet on OMG Power Grip96MOD.REC285TP232 PROJECT NOTES:1. Array to be centered in South-facing roofplane.2. Exact framing location to be verified onsite.3. Slide rail assembly as needed to avoidinterfering with splices or bases.4. Unless otherwise noted bases arestaggered and spaced at 48" O.C.5. Max. allowable rail span is 48".6. Max. allowable rail cantilever is 16".7. Additional or alternative bases may beused in response to actual roof profile tocomply with rail equipmentspecifications.8. Keep splices at least 2" from bases andmidclamps.9. Keep splices with 1/3 base-to-base spanof either base.10. Module frame dimension is 65.5" x 37.4"x 1.9".11. Clamp centerline to be within 5" and 10"of short end of the module frame.12. Torque UFO clamps to 80 in-lbs.13. Torque L-Feet-to-rail nuts to 250 in-lbs.14. Roof material is rubber membraneREVISIONS#DESCRIPTIONDATENPAGE:TITLE:BY:SHEET:SIZE:SCALE:DATE:FDN #:JOB:SITE:PV Squared Solar311 Wells Street, Suite BGreenfield, MA 01301design@pvsquared.coop413-772-8788Habitat - Glendale Northampton129 &133 Glendale RdNorthampton MA 01060Array LayoutDG9/24/20181/4" = 1'-0"11" x 17"1 / 1N/AA-01NROO FTOP RIDGEROOF TOP EDGEROOF DRIP LINEROOF DRIP LINE3" vents @ 14" away from outside wallSIP Panels TIJ @ 48" O.C.Ecofasten L-Feet on OMG Power Grip basesattached to roof structure by Vermod buildingmanufacturer as indicated .5" rail clamp range (starting 5"from the module edge)Building exterior face wall projection14" vent clearanceIronridge XR100 railingassembly2414"1573 4" array
2414"2"AttachmentsRail assemblyRail clamp range