Letter from Massasoit St YMCA neighbors to the Planning Board 12-8-22.pdfDecember 7, 2022
To the members of the Planning Board of the City of Northampton:
This letter is from the neighbors who will be directly affected by the YMCA’s plans to change its
outdoor space. We live on Massasoit Street across from and next to the YMCA building and
parking lot. Many of us met with the Y leadership a year ago and are disheartened that our
concerns are not represented in these plans. We urge the members of the Planning Board to
reject the current plan submitted by the YMCA for the following reasons:
Noise. When we met with the Y, we explained that the noise from the outdoor exercise classes
was disruptive to our lives. Many of us let it go during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic
because we knew that this was the only alternative for many of the Y’s members. But what it
meant for the Y’s neighbors, many of us who were and continue to work from home, is that we
had to close our windows in the height of summer and try to block out the noise in other ways.
The Y’s plan as submitted, however, will make the noise situation much worse for all of us. Its
proposed “Airnasiums” (large pavilion airnasium and shade sail airnasium) are closer to our
houses (than the upper lot location) and are directed towards the houses on Massasoit St. The
sound will be carried directly towards Massasoit Street due to the locations of the proposed
staging area, a new proposed retaining wall, and the building. In contrast, when there is sound
presently used in the upper lot, it is higher up in elevation and more dispersed (there is
no staging area and building behind it and to the side to direct/focus the noise). This proposal
arguably channels all the sound towards Massasoit St, with much of it reverberating off the
building, the back hill, and the newly proposed retaining wall.
One alternative discussed at the meeting a year ago was to turn the entire stage/pavilion
around, so that the staging area has its back to the lower lot in the corner closest to the lot and
the stage is angled diagonally towards Nuttleman’s Florist; or to move the staging area up
against the hill and direct the sound behind the Y with the back of the staging area against the
sidewalk by the basketball court and the exercise space tucked in that area next to and behind
the Y, directing the sound behind the Y building.
We are wondering whether these alternatives have been considered. Are other measures
possible that would reduce the direct projection of sound towards Massasoit St or to otherwise
mitigate the sound? Would it be possible to use a system that employs headphones so that the
music and instructor are only heard by the class participants?
As far as we can tell, there has been no analysis, investigation, or explanation as to how the
project would conform to required sound limitations. Even if the Y’s plan complies with the
City’s Noise Ordinance, we do not believe this ordinance was written with the Y’s current plans in
mind. We all tolerate the occasion leaf blower or construction noise or even a loud graduation
party, but is it fair for the Y’s neighbors to be subjected to loud music 360+ days a year?
For better or worse, the YMCA is located in a residential neighborhood. It is also adjacent to
Child’s Park, whose website says it’s an “oasis of serenity in the heart of the City of
Northampton, MA” and “a place for quiet reflection and for savoring the smells, sounds, and
sights of nature.” In addition to the effect of the Y’s plans on its residential neighbors, please
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consider how the noise from the exercise classes will impact Child’s Park (even if more noise will
be directed towards Massasoit in the current plan).
Trees and Green Space. Another concern is the removal of all of the mature shade trees
adjacent to the Y where the large pavilion airnasium and container airnasium are proposed. Why
isn’t it possible to keep the trees? Removal of these trees would come after the Y cut down three
beautiful, mature evergreen trees next to the sidewalk a little over a year and a half ago. One of
those trees had some health issues, but the other two were perfectly healthy and did not need
to be taken down. They took them down only because they would “eventually” have to come
down and the tree service was there to take down the one unhealthy tree.
We are concerned that the Y’s plan eliminates more green space and may exceed the
requirement for green space on its property, depending on what actually qualifies as green
space in their plan. Does the Y actually need three different outdoor exercise spaces, which
would take away from the limited green space on its property? Further, the proposed plantings
will take many years to add shade and beautify the property, while the Y has still failed to plant
an adequate barrier along the parking lot facing Massasoit Street.
Lights. The majority of the existing onsite lights do not meet lighting requirements and create
glare throughout the site and off site. The proposed project would include additional lighting.
But the Y has been sending light pollution into our neighborhood for many years, even though
there are cost-saving efficient downward directed LED lights available as substitutes. This should
be changed before the Y is permitted to construct a project that will cause sound pollution and
remove additional green space.
Basketball court. The proposal eliminates the current basketball court and replaces it with a
multi-use court. We do not know how this multi-use court will be used and how often, and
again are concerned about noise. The current basketball court is a community resource that is
used constantly in the good weather by community members from this and other
neighborhoods. We urge the Y to continue to offer this resource to the community, regardless
of whether users belong to the Y.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Tamara Kupfer, 117 Massasoit Street
Andrew Sirulnik, 117 Massasoit Street
John Yount, 94 Massasoit Street
Betsy Yount, 94 Massasoit Street
Leah Morrison, 119 Massasoit Street
Art Middleton, 119 Massasoit Street
Kay Althoff, 89 Massasoit Street (front)
Monica Strauss, 89 Massasoit Street (back)
Shauneen Kroll, 93 & 95 Massasoit Street
Bob Eppsteiner, 88 Massasoit Street
Jennifer Cannon, 28 5th Avenue (corner of Massasoit St)
Nada Kawar, 274 Prospect St. (corner of Massasoit St)