NORTHAMPTON — After much conversation during its June 13 meeting, the Northampton Planning Board decided to continue its discussion about a project at 8 View Ave. until its July 25 meeting.
The project, spearheaded by Sovereign Builders of Westfield, calls for the development of 12 new single-family efficiency units, a new private drive, two bicycle-covered structures that fit eight bikes in both, and a common park space gathering area accessed by a private two-lane dead-end paved access road and pedestrian sidewalks that connect to North Street.
According to Jeff Squire, a principal landscape architect from Berkshire Design Group, a 1,515-square-foot single-family home, a 60-square-foot shed and an asphalt driveway currently sit on the site, which borders a nearby vegetated wetlands to the west.
Squire said that nine of the units will be around 768 square feet and then three larger units will be just over 1,300 square feet and include a 250-square-foot carport. In total, Squire said there will be 18 parking spaces available.
Squire also noted how the lighting on the site is compliant with city regulations and he also presented a plan to the board that illustrated tree removal on site. He said that the project proposes to install new trees on the site and pay funds to the city for remaining mitigation requirements.
He also told the board that the project fits some of the goals of the Sustainable Northampton Comprehensive Plan, particularly the one that speaks to providing affordable high-density housing for mixed incomes with small energy efficient homes.
“This certainly achieves all of those goals,” Squire said. “We approach this project in a way that really tried to focus and enhance the resource areas on the site and the open space … being cognizant of the adjacent residential homes.”
Some of the residents who spoke during the public comment portion of the hearing expressed skepticism about this project because of its possible negative impact on the environment.
Jacqueline McCreanor, a North Street resident and abutter to the project, raised objections to building new units on land that is in proximity to wetlands.
“I do not believe that this project is a responsible action by the city,” McCreanor said. “Building in the wetlands would strip our neighborhood of critical flood control as well as heat mitigation from specific trees.”
Florence resident Jane Myers also expressed concern about the proposed tree removal and building on a nearby wetland. She, and others, also noted how the water table at the site is “excessively high.”
“I believe these woods and wetlands should be purchased and permanently protected by the city of Northampton,” Myers said. “The residents from this neighborhood deserve protection from climate change just like any other neighborhood in the city.”
A representative from Sovereign Builders, who did not identify himself during the meeting, said that the selection of the property for development was not driven by profit, but rather a desire put something together that is “forward thinking” while also trying to preserve the land in the area.
“The driver is to really do something that works well for the city, that creates housing, but also is attractive and appealing and works with the habitat and the nature,” the applicant said.
Carolyn Misch, the city’s director of planning and sustainability, responded to a number of concerns expressed by the public. She said the carbon impacts for this project are much lower than a similar project that would happen in a “new pristine area” like out in Ryan Road or Florence Road.
She added that these calculations were determined by a tool developed by consultants the city contracts with that determines what the carbon impact of a project is on a given location based on transportation impacts, trees, building impacts and existing buildings.
“We think that, certainly from the Sustainable Northampton Plan, the building standards for these new buildings are highly efficient and addressing units that are more accessible to people because of their size,” Misch said.
The board decided to delay its vote on the project until its July 25 meeting at 7 p.m. because a stormwater report was not ready for the June 13 meeting.
“I appreciate the developer trying to do something different, trying to do something smaller, and perhaps a gamble, perhaps not,” said Planning Board Chair George Kohout. “We’ll see if this project is approved.”
