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2001 to 2002 Northampton Planning AwardsN orthampton Planning Special Recognition Epitomizing the exact opposite of NIMBY (2001): Esther Ralston and Stephen Ferrari When the city proposed both an infill affordable duplex and a walking trail immediately next to their home, they worked with the city in the permit process. Then, instead of simply acquiescing to both projects, they provided leadership to ensure both were implemented. Esther took charge of organizing an informal Friends of Saw Mill Hills and coordinated building the trail. Steve worked with Habitat for Humanity to direct the home building process, saving Habitat the funds they typically use to hire such assistance. Extra-Ordinary Volunteer Commitment (2001): Yvonne Freccero The community regained a huge asset when Yvonne, after an absence from Northampton, returned to Northampton, supposedly to retire. During this alleged retirement, she joined the Housing Partnership, became a member of the Next Step Collaborative, whose charge was to address the homelessness in our community, searched tirelessly for a permanent site for the Cot Program, chaired the management team that administers the Cot Program, and oversaw the program’s 400-person volunteer effort that has now grown into its own non-profit organization. She continues to work with the Housing Partnership on efforts to create additional affordable housing and just helped launch a successful evening meals program for the homeless. When the permanent cot shelter opens in a couple of months, we should all be aware it would not have happened without Yvonne. Exemplary Conservationist (2001): Armand LaPalme The largest donation of conservation land the city has ever received took place several years ago, when Armand LaPalme bargain-sold the Mineral Hills Conservation Area to the city. With his family’s blessing, Armand ensured that land which he had cared for over many years would forever be preserved. His donation, however, did not end when the land transferred to the city. To this day Armand works tirelessly to maintain the property and its trails. Keep an eye out for the full moon where you may see the shadow of this gracious man sledding down a snow-capped hillside on a winter’s night. Open Space Preservation (2001): Carolyn Gray and George Peppard Over the years, the city has received many donations of land, cash, and bargain-priced land. The most generous donation the city ever received was early last year when Carolyn Gray and George Peppard provided the financial assistance needed to acquire an agricultural preservation restriction on a beautiful piece of Park Hill Road farmland. Then, as the final dessert, they placed a conservation restriction on adjoining land they owned, adding to a contiguous open space corridor. Extra-Ordinary Board Service, Redevelopment Authority Pioneer (2001): Edward Skroski In spite of Ed’s 30 years, so far, on the Northampton Redevelopment Authority, the majority of those years as chair, few people even know that the city has a Redevelopment Authority. Ed’s years of dedication, however, is part of the reason that Northampton is as successful as it is. The Redevelopment Authority literally built the Northampton Industrial Park, creating a core of some of the best jobs in the city. They also played a key part in building interest in redeveloping downtown Northampton, and especially in sparking the Round House plaza redevelopment. Extra-Ordinary Board Service, Redevelopment Authority & Housing Partnership Pioneer (2001): Richard Abuza Richard seems to never tire of public service, even though he is now in his 23rd year on the Northampton Redevelopment Authority, which developed the Northampton Industrial Park, and his 11th year concurrently serving on the Housing Partnership, 7 of which were as its chair. In addition to his board service, he has found time to bargain-sell a key portion of Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area to the city. Richard’s gift of eloquent articulation, sincere compassion, and a strong commitment to the provision of affordable housing remains an irreplaceable asset to the city. Extra-Ordinary Board Service, Conservation Commission Pioneer (2001): C. Mason Maronn To many people, Mason Maronn is the Conservation Commission. Now in his 26th year on the Commission, the majority of those years as chair, Mason has kept a positive attitude, a broad mind, and a willingness to continue learning, and, most importantly, is always dedicated to preserving the environment. Mason is the city’s hardworking wetland protector, but one who also understands development constraints and can fairly implement what is arguably the most arcane of regulations. Extra-Ordinary Board Service, Conservation, Planning and Zoning (2001): Mark NeJame Mark is leaving city board service, for now, after twelve dedicated years. Mark’s motto could be “have skills will travel.” Starting on the Conservation Commission, Mark helped modernize the Commission’s approach to permitting. Then, just as he mastered the work and life got easy, he moved on to the Planning Board. There he helped the board as it transitioned from being primarily a permit granting authority into a board with a much stronger planning focus. Then, to meet his new calling, Mark moved on to the Zoning Board and helped it emerge as a professionalized Zoning Board of Appeals. We wait for Mark to leave his valuable outside commitments and come back to serve the city. Honoring our History (2002): Historic Northampton When the Flood Hazard Mitigation Team received a floodplain outreach grant to create a video of flood hazards, Historic Northampton got the commission. Kerry Buckley welcomed the challenge to take a budget barely enough to pay for supplies and agreed to serve as producer. Kerry put his powerful vision, energy, and commitment into the project, as he does for every project. David Parnell, the filmmaker, took Kerry’s direction and created an informative video that exceeded any reasonable expectations we had or the budget allowed. Historic Northampton now hosts this video on their web site. Honoring our History, Extra-Ordinary Volunteer Commitment (2002): Stan Sherer and Louise Bloomberg When the Historic Commission received a grant from the Northampton Arts Council to celebrate the millennium by documenting significant historic preservation projects in Northampton, Stan Sherer was approached to create the photographs. Stan not only readily agreed, but devoted hundreds of uncompensated hours that culminated in a priceless gift to the City of sensitively portrayed images depicting outstanding examples of preservation in a community that cares for its built environment. Stan also made presentations at the High School to educate students on the state of the art techniques utilized to produce the images. Louise Bloomberg, of the Historic Commission, oversaw the project, solicited and edited the text panels on history of each project, and organized the exhibit opening at Historic Northampton and its permanent installation in City Hall. Exemplary Conservationist (2002): Gerrit Stover Gerrit Stover is the person to call for planning projects that need a bit of moral support or volunteer work. When the City was considering downtown architectural standards to help enhance the vitality of downtown, it was Gerrit who created a computerized visual analysis that demonstrated why the standards were needed. When the City partnered with Habitat for Humanity to move a surplus city-owned house to a nearby building lot, it was Gerrit who created the computer rendering that helped neighbors visualize how the house would look on the site. When the City was interested in preserving farmland and vistas along Park Hill Road, it was Gerrit who brokered a key joint Northampton-Easthampton Agricultural Preservation Restriction. When city planning is happening, Gerrit can be counted on to participate and advocate. Open Space Preservation and Affordable Housing Advocacy (2002): Broad Brook Coalition The City forms many partnerships with many non-profit and neighborhood groups. One of the most fruitful is our partnership with the Broad Brook Coalition. BBC support made possible the City’s purchase of well over half of the 550-acre Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area. BBC volunteers now perform the majority of the maintenance at Fitzgerald Lake, and have transformed the conservation area into our best maintained conservation area. BBC’s genesis came about by opposing a poorly thought out development. Early on, however, BBC decided that they wanted to help make good things happen, rather than simply opposing projects. BBC transformed themselves when they fought successfully for a mixed-income development at Pines Edge and created the fund raising and support necessary to expand Fitzgerald Lake. Nancy Harvin, Frank Olbris, Jonathan Roche, Monica Jakuc, Bob Packwood, Carmen Ahearn, Jody Larsen, Marianne McKim, and Norma Roche, have all played pivotal roles in this effort of the years, but dozens, if not hundreds, of other volunteers have all participated in this truly collaborative partnership. Progressive Downtown Redevelopment (2002): Claire Bateman Claire Bateman made the transformation of the former Elks Building and the permanent home for the Interfaith Cot Shelter a successful reality. She undertook a project on the brink of failure and turned it into a vibrant contributor to our downtown. When Claire rescued the project, she accepted the most ambitious revitalization project in downtown in over a decade. Claire shared the original vision that saw a homeless shelter, social service agencies, private citizens and a religious organization living harmoniously in a building restored to its former glory. Ms. Bateman is to be congratulated for her spirit and her perseverance in bringing this endeavor to a magnificent completion. Extra-Ordinary Board Service, Planning Board (2002): Dan Yacuzzo Dan Yacuzzo served on the Northampton Planning Board for eleven dedicated years, the last three of those years as Chair. Dan is a passionate and extremely strong advocate for what he saw as the City’s needs. Mr. Yacuzzo often used his positive attitude and good cheer to make even the most passionate and controversial discussions go smoothly. In addition, Dan has worked tirelessly to support other planning goals. He was a driving force in creating and making the Taste of Northampton a success and is a generous supporter of the arts. His business and his community efforts were a key part in making Northampton’s hospitality business one of the most important part of downtown’s success. Extra-Ordinary Board Service, Planning Board (2002): Andrew Crystal Andrew Crystal served on the Planning Board for fifteen dedicated years, seven of those years as Chair. In addition to being a brilliant moderator, Andrew served two critical roles on the Planning Board. First, he helped the Planning Board learn how to use their new Site Plan Approval authority and remained the strongest advocate of ensuring that projects were well designed. Second, Andrew helped transform the Planning Board to be more proactive, initiating the Planning Board’s first Northampton State Hospital master plan. He also advocated goal setting for Board activities and served on the Chamber of Commerce and as the Chair of the Safer Streets Committee, which eventually led to the creation of a permanent Transportation Commission. Wayne Feiden, FAICP, Director of Planning and Development