2020.08.27 Staff Report
Conservation Commission Staff Report 1
August 27, 2020
To: Conservation Commission
From: Sarah LaValley
RE: Staff Report, August 27, 2020 Commission Meeting
5:30 PM – Request for Determination of Applicability to determine if conversion of
a paved area to grass, and associated site redevelopment within buffer zone is
subject to the Wetlands Protection Act or Northampton Wetlands Ordinance. John
J Ferriter, 391/393 Damon Rd. Map ID 25A-013
Application Overview:
The application proposes redevelopment of an existing greenhouse and restaurant use into a retail
marijuana dispensary. Overall site work includes building demolition, new building construction,
parking lot creation, and related work
A silt fence is proposed at the 100 foot buffer zone, and the only activity proposed within the buffer is
loaming and seeding. All other work will take place outside resource areas. Impervious areas and
will be shifted farther away from wetland resources than existing conditions.
Consistency with the Wetlands Protection Act and Northampton Wetlands Ordinance,
Staff Recommendation:
All alteration will occur outside jurisdictional resource areas, and should have no impact on
adjacent wetland areas. Issue a negative determination by checking box3, to indicate that work is
within the buffer but will not remove, dredge, fill or alter.
Note that wetland boundaries are not confirmed by checking box 2b. Require silt fencing as
shown, with notification at least 48 hours prior to work.
Chapter 61 Right-of-First Refusal, Turkey Hill Road
A high end lot at the end of Turkey Hill Road (see map) was created well over a decade ago as part of
the limited development project that
also created some mid-range units
(condos at the end of Turkey Hill Road)
and importantly preserved 150 acres.
A buyer at $179,000 has now been
found. Since the lot has been in
Chapter 61, forestry, since it was
created, the City has a right of first
refusal on the purchase now that it is
planned to be removed from Chapter 61.
Staff recommends that the Commission
support a waiver of the lot purchase to
City Council. The taxes from the lot and
house was one of the promises made to
City Council when they first approved
the Turkey Hill project that allowed for
the permanent land protection.