Good information from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission

Martha:

Thank you. This subject is on our August 26 agenda. All Selectboard members have received information, including a CD “Valley Vision 2.” I hope you can attend our August 26 meeting.

- Bob

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From: Martha Johnson [mailto: mjggdi@comcast.net ]
Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 10:38 AM
To: bob judge
Subject: Fwd: Green Resources online

Bob, Catherine Miller of PVPC sent these sites. I would think these would be VERY IMPORTANT RESOURCES for each of select board members to look at and be informed about as you/they deliberate about town issues. They are also up on CPAC site under references and resources. I found them fascinating. Let's get on board and be a part of the Western Mass network for sustainable practices. South Hadley is one of the 43 communities that signed on to participate, per last year's select board decision. Part of our participation will require on going education about what this all means. It's really our only way forward under current circumstances. Martha

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From: Miller, Catherine [mailto:Cmiller@PVPC.ORG]
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 12:59 PM

The website for the Pioneer Valley Sustainability Network is www.pvsustain.com

The website for the Sustainable Development code is:

http://law.du.edu/images/uploads/rmlui/rmlui-sustainable-betaV1-1.pdf

The website for the Local Government Sustainability Toolkit is:

http://www4.uwm.edu/shwec/publications/cabinet/reductionreuse/SustainabilityToolkit.pdf

Comments about South Hadley Falls

From: Anonymous
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:41 AM
To: Bob Judge
Subject: Re: South Hadley Comprehensive Plan "Issue Gatherings"

Hey Bob,

Thank you, I'll try my best to attend...

My main interest/area of input would be anything regarding:

- Economic development in the Falls.

- Smart growth = mixed-use of Texon building. This needs to happen, it's a unique structure with major historical significance and this is the town landmark. Look at the town emblem/seal. If this is demolished, a great opportunity and proof of the industrial past of the city is gone forever.

- Pushing the town officials to look for developers for the redevelopment of Michael's Market. Right now, this is embarrassing for the town. The first thing you see driving over the bridge is a boarded up building, a liquor store and tattoo parlor.

- Taking vacant lot/corner by Main/Bridge (eminent domain if need be) for real estate development. Complete eye-sore and highly visable area for potential commerce. It'd be amazing to re-build the Cowan Block.

- Overriding building codes so that new buildings can be built on Main Street. I bet we can find hundreds / thousands of communities near water/floodplains that have built rather than made excuses like SH has.

- Utilizing the vacant lot near Haas Electric on Main Street. This looks horrible. Waste of potential development space.

- Moving forward on the Riverside Park.

- Utilizing the water-front

Frankly, Main Street in Holyoke looks more vibrant and interesting than Main Street in South Hadley. The absence of actual buildings, historical buildings, and abundance of vacant lots in the Falls really hinders the economic development unless new structures are created and the Texan building is revitalized. Imagine if the empty lots of where filled by five 3-5 story buildings with retail on street level, a few restaunts. That would give the Falls some hope as far as a real rebound. The falls has the highest population density in the town, most people per dwelling but lacks progressive direction and real identity. South Hadley doesn't have a downtown which is a major killer. This is the place to start.

• If we are to have an effective environmental policy, downtowns are important.
• If we are to have an effective transportation policy, downtowns are important.
• If we are to have meaningful historic preservation, downtowns are important.
• If we want Smart Growth, downtowns are not only important but irreplaceable.
• If a local official wants to claim the treasured mantle of fiscal responsibility, downtown revitalization is imperative.
• If we want to avoid Generica, downtown is essential to establish differentiation.
• If the community is going to compete in economic globalization without being swallowed by cultural globalization, downtown revitalization has to be central to the strategy.
• If new businesses, innovative businesses, and creative businesses are going to be fostered and encouraged, a community will need a downtown where that can take place.
• If we are to have buildings with meaning, buildings with value, buildings with values, they will be downtown.
• If we are to have public places of public expression, we need a downtown.
• If a community is going to embrace diversity instead of hide from it, celebrate diversity instead of deny it, then that has to take place downtown, it ain't gonna happen anywhere else...."

- Donovan Rypkema

The South Hadley Comprehensive Plan

From: CPAC [mailto:cpac@southhadley.org]
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:44 AM
To: 'Andrew Rogers'; Barry Del Castilho; Bill Sutton; 'Dan Evans'; David Labrie; 'Deborah Baldini'; Gus Sayer; 'Janice Stone'; Jennifer Picard; Jennifer Wolowicz; Jim Reidy; Joe Rodio; 'John O'Connor'; 'Judith Barthelette'; 'Lisa Napiorkowski'; Lynn Roberts ; Melissa LaBonte; Mike LaMontagne; 'Missy Couture'; Ola Herbert; 'S. Hadley Community TV'; 'Sharon Hart'; 'Steve Reno'; 'Wayne Doerpholz'; Yem Lip; 'Bill Judd'; 'Bill Selkirk'; 'David Keefe'; 'Jeff Cyr'; 'Carlene Hamlin'; 'Greg Sheehan'; 'John Hine'; 'Marilyn Ishler'; 'Robert Judge'; 'Andrew Orr'
Cc: Linda Young; Melissa O'Brien
Subject: Comprehensive Plan Website

Good Morning,

As you are aware, the Planning Board created a 15-member committee to develop the Town’s new Comprehensive Plan. Our consultant, VHB, Inc. has created a website for this project. I would encourage you to visit the website and keep informed as to the status of the planning effort and upcoming events. Additional drafts of plan elements, issue papers, meeting minutes, and reference materials will also be added to the site as work continues. The link to this site is: http://www.vhb.com/southhadley/default.asp

Please pay particular note to the “Issue Gathering” sessions scheduled for July 23, 24, 28, and 29 at the high school library (see “Upcoming Events” on the website).

If you have any questions or comments about the process, please feel free to contact me. You may also use the comment email/form on the site.

Sincerely,
Richard Harris, AICP
South Hadley Town Planner