The Northampton Planning Board unanimosuly approved a new 12-unit project at 8 View Ave. during its July 25 meeting.
Photo credit: Northampton Open Media
NORTHAMPTON — During its July 25 meeting, the Northampton Planning Board unanimously approved a site plan and special permit for 12 new single-family efficiency units at 8 View Ave.
Spearheaded by Sovereign Builders of Westfield, the project also includes 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.
In a presentation to the board about the project during the board’s June 13 meeting, Jeff Squire, a principal landscape architect from Berkshire Design Group, 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.”
Squire said that 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.
Much like what happened at the June 13 meeting, a few residents spoke against the project during the July 25 public hearing, mainly because of the project’s proximity to the nearby wetlands.
Jacqueline McCreanor, a North Street resident and abutter to the project, expressed concerns about the project’s tree removal plan and joined a couple other residents in urging the board to block the plan so the city could purchase the land for protection.
“I strongly urge you to protect the neighboring residents, purchase this land and permanently preserve this significant urban forest and wetlands,” McCreanor said.
Meg Robbins, a resident of Aldrich Street, expressed concerns about the possibility of increased flooding with a project like this and joined McCreanor in urging the city to purchase the land.
“This is a great opportunity to purchase the plot of land, preserve it forever; [and] keep it as this beautiful, cool non-heat island,” Robbins said.
During the initial June 13 meeting, a representative from Sovereign Builders 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 at the June 13 meeting. 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.
George Kohout, the chair of the Planning Board, showed his support for the project during the July 25 meeting and emphasized the fact that the project would not impact the nearby wetlands. He said the city’s Conservation Commission would make sure of that in a future meeting.
“They’re still a majority of the area is still preserved for wetland absorption for tree canopy, and it will add a component of housing in an area that is close to the downtown,” Kohout said of the project. “People want housing. I don’t think we want to limit that.”
