Shumway letter1/25/24, 11:05 AM City of Northampton Mail - Public Comment For 14 Garfield St Florence Site Plan
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=46b15cdcbd&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:1789073644286379014&simpl=msg-f:1789073644286379014 1/1
Nathan Chung <nchung@northamptonma.gov>
Public Comment For 14 Garfield St Florence Site Plan
1 message
Phillip Shumway <pshumway79@yahoo.com>Thu, Jan 25, 2024 at 9:39 AM
To: "nchung@northamptonma.gov" <nchung@northamptonma.gov>
Hello.
My name is Phil Shumway from 15 Garfield Street Florence.
I am writing as a public comment pertaining to the Planning Board Hearing on January 25 of the two triplex residential
buildings and site development by Nu-way Homes at 14 Garfield Street Florence, Map ID 17D-064.
I moved here a few years back and was surprised when the 14 Garfield Street property was never listed on the market
for sale to potential home buyers, yet was purchased by developers and the existing home and garage subsequently
demolished.
I had hoped the home could have been saved and renovated into a family home or homes that fit the neighborhood.
These current building plans for the property make me wonder if my decision to move to this area was a wise one.
Hearing that this new project consists of two "skyscraper" triplexes and a twelve-vehicle asphalt parking lot seems
excessive and sounds like a LOT of people living in a very small area and an odd fit for this Florence neighborhood.
These plans also raise several concerns that I hope will be addressed by the city:
On street parking and vehicles: With six additional families on this small street and only a twelve-spot parking lot, I
have traffic concerns over cars parking on the sides of the street. And there is feasibility of additionally regular traffic
which poses a much larger traffic "footprint" on the small street itself.
Utilities are also a concern. Specifically, the water and sewer line, as I have had the sewer back up into my basement
twice in only five years due to city infrastructure failure of which the city was the responsible party for both times, not
the homeowner.
Also the removing of trees and leaving minimal green space in order to jam in these two large triplex buildings and an
asphalt parking lot seems an excessive “sprawl” for the area and for the Florence neighborhood.
I trust that these development plans are within current city zoning ordinances and not seeking a variance.
These plans will unfortunately greatly impact my thoughts on where I will be living in the future and my feelings about
the Northampton area.
I understand people want freedom to do as they wish with their property, but I am dismayed about these DRASTIC,
odd changes to this neighborhood and disappointed in the city for considering that this large development is a good
idea.
There is a Joni Mitchell song about excessive urban development called Big Yellow Taxi that comes to mind.
As the song says, "they paved Paradise, and put up a parking lot". In this case, it's the "paradise" city.
Thank you for reading and letting me voice my concerns.
-Phil Shumway
Garfield St
Florence