Conservation, Sustainability and Infill

 A CURRENT HOUSING INFILL project proposed at 8 View Avenue, Northampton, MA in Ward 3B, led abutters and additional supportive residents to hire an independent stormwater consultant, Mr. Robert Gemma, PE, PLS, of MetroWest Engineering, to review the April 11, 2024 stormwater drainagereport submitted by Sovereign Builder's consultant, Berkshire Design Group.Mr. Gemma completed his report on August 22, 2024.His findings showed that the April 11th stormwater drainage report was significantly flawed. Per Mr. Gemma's conclusion in his review of the April 11th stormwater drainage report:"It is my professional opinion that the project, as presented, fails to demonstrate that the eight interests of the MA Wetlands Protection Regulations, as described in 310 CMR 10.01 (2), will be protected. Further, the submission fails to demonstrate compliance with MA DEP Stormwater Standards #2 and #3."Please find Mr. Gemma's stormwater analysis and report below.Alternatively, you can access it here at Northassoc.org, an incredibly informative blog hosted by North Street resident, Adam Cohen at The Northassoc.org blog includes excellent history on 8 View Avenue, including information from when former, late developer, Douglas Kohl, attempted to develop the property circa 2007.For example, the blog shares information from an August 23, 2007 Conservation Commission hearing for 8 View Avenue, where Mr. Kohl reported to the Commission that there are vernal pools on the property.  It is important to note that the April 11th stormwater drainage report was the only report available to the public at the time of the July 25th Planning Board hearing (continued from the initial public hearing for 8 View Avenue on June 13, 2024).When residents sent Mr. Gemma’s report to City officials on August 23, 2024, the City posted a revised stormwater drainage report online, dated July 15, 2024.It is unclear whether the Planning Board made their final vote and decision based on the publicly available April 11th stormwater drainage report, or on the publicly unavailable July 15th report.The Planning Board voted unanimously to approve the project on July 25, 2024, despite lengthy testimony of opposition from abutters and residents, and 69 petition signatures requesting the Board to reject the project and the City to permanently preserve the significant Norway Spruce forest and Bordering Vegetated Wetlands at 8 View Avenue.Submittals were also sent to the Planning Board that have documented the excessively high water tables and flooding in the neighborhood.Despite two Planning Board members not being sworn in at the time of the July 25th hearing, and one member not being sworn in at the time of the June 13th hearing, the unanimous vote to approve the proposed project at 8 View Avenue has held.The next hearing was scheduled for the August 29th Conservation Commission meeting. However, on August 27th, when the Commission released its agenda for August 29th, the agenda stated that the applicant for 8 View Avenue had requested a continuation until September 12, 2024.Hence, the Northampton Conservation Commission held a hearing for 8 View Avenue on September 12, 2024 at 5:45 pm. The design was voted unanimously to approve Berkshire Design’s Plan for 8 View Avenue at the September 26. 2024 meeting.. The Commission meets only by Zoom.