Myers letter with photos and maps1/25/24, 11:42 AM City of Northampton Mail - My public comment for Major Site Plan Review of 14 Garfield St. proposal
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=46b15cdcbd&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:1789080888825101555&simpl=msg-f:1789080888825101555 1/3
Nathan Chung <nchung@northamptonma.gov>
My public comment for Major Site Plan Review of 14 Garfield St. proposal
1 message
Jane Myers <janemyers18@gmail.com>Thu, Jan 25, 2024 at 11:34 AM
To: "nchung@northamptonma.gov" <nchung@northamptonma.gov>
Dear Nathan Chung,
The following expresses some of my concerns about the proposal by Nu-Way Homes for 14 Garfield St. I have also
attached some photos to accompany my concerns as well as the text of this email as a Word doc. Please let me know if
the attachments are too large to access or share. Thank you for your consideration.
I live at 74 Straw Avenue. My en re backyard abuts the east boundary of the 14 Garfield Street property.
Much expense and skill went into the crea on of Nu-Ways Homes’ plans for 14 Garfield St. But the plans mask and omit cri cal
informa on about the proposed development. (I have a ached images to provide some context of the proposed development
related to my concerns.)
For one thing, the plans do not provide complete dimensions of the lot itself and offset dimensions to buildings close to the
boundary line that would be affected by the construc on, loca on of fences, poten al surface run-off, etc. The required 40% open
space cannot be calculated accurately, especially because some areas are not fully dimensioned.
In addi on, the overall site plan does not provide any context – e.g. iden fica on of structures, green spaces, density, uses, and
overall appearance of the surrounding neighborhood, which is all modest single family dwellings. (A 300’ radius plan would be
helpful.)
Under the Site Approval regula ons, Item C states that the Planning Board must find that:
“The site will func on harmoniously in rela on to other structures and open spaces to the natural landscape, exis ng
buildings and other community assets in the area as it relates to landscaping … [and] massing….”
It is especially concerning that the plans do not show the narrowness of Garfield Street, which has no curbs or sidewalks and barely
has room for two cars to pass one another. Anyone walking in the street must walk in the street itself. Any guest or visitor parking on
the street will have an impact on access for public safety vehicles and on pedestrian safety. Since the plan does not present the
neighborhood context, it cannot demonstrate whether the development would func on harmoniously in rela on to the “community
assets” of the exis ng houses and this very narrow two-way street.
The zoning code requires that “Parking for more than 5 cars shall be distributed on the site [rather than in one lot] to minimize
impact to the neighborhood character.” I was told that the lot is fine because it is away from the street – though this is not
men oned in the code. The phrase “neighborhood character” apparently refers to a concern that it should not “overwhelm the
streetscape or the neighborhood character along the street.” The parking lot and driving surfaces cover nearly half the site. Because
of the poten al noise and light – including from delivery vehicles – that even a fence will not hide or mi gate, why is it acceptable for
it to overwhelm the neighborhood character as experienced by neighbors whose small backyards abut the lot?
I support Northampton’s commitment to infill to increase housing opportuni es to buy and rent in the city. However, filling in with
two large triple-deckers for a total of six families (with a poten al occupancy of 36 people) and an expansively paved parking lot for
12 cars (plus dumpster and bike storage) on land previously serving one family is infill that is too dense and intense for this quiet and
low-density neighborhood. I believe that filling in a lot previously serving one family with two duplexes serving four families would
be a good compromise. It would reduce the scale of the development and provide significant infill while lessening the nega ve
impacts of increased density, traffic, noise, and the loss of green space.
The approval of this plan creates a dangerous precedent for the en re neighborhood. It will make it even easier for people to sell
their land to developers who can max out the exis ng green open spaces with larger mul -family dwellings and parking lots. I believe
it is important to obtain missing informa on, including a traffic safety study, before a final decision regarding this site plan is made.
A ached photos:
1. A view of Garfield Street homes across from 14 Garfield and homes on Garfield Avenue.
1/25/24, 11:42 AM City of Northampton Mail - My public comment for Major Site Plan Review of 14 Garfield St. proposal
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=46b15cdcbd&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:1789080888825101555&simpl=msg-f:1789080888825101555 2/3
2. Screenshot of tax map area near 14 Garfield St, 17D-064, and abu ng homes, https://northamptonma.gov/
DocumentCenter/View/24527/tax_maps_17D.
3. A Google Maps view of the intersec on of Garfield St. and Straw Avenue, with a small truck, to give a sense of the
width of the paved surface of Garfield St.
4. A current view of the backyard of 70 Straw Avenue, where all the trees would be cut and the area, in addi on to an
area behind my garage, which would be filled with the parking lot.
5. The back le part of my backyard, 74 Straw Ave. The plan needs to include screening for this area of my backyard,
where the parking lot is proximate and in full view and sound.
--
Jane Myers
Cell phone: 413-320-7742
Florence landline: 413-727-3344
janemyers18@gmail.com
6 attachments
Neighbors across 14 Garfield St. & on Garfield Ave.jpg
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Screenshot of tax near 14 Garfield St., 17-064.7 AM.png
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Garfield St. with small truck Google Maps.png
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1/25/24, 11:42 AM City of Northampton Mail - My public comment for Major Site Plan Review of 14 Garfield St. proposal
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=46b15cdcbd&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:1789080888825101555&simpl=msg-f:1789080888825101555 3/3
Backyard of 70 Straw adjacent to proposed parking lot.jpg
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Backyard of 74 Straw adjacent to parking lot.jpg
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To Planning Board re 14 Garfield St. proposal_Jane Myers 1.25.24.docx
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