Committee approves two-family housing zoning exemption
Northampton Legislative Matters Committee recommends two-family zoning exemption. The City Council Committee on Legislative Matters voted 3-1 on May 11 to recommend ordinance 26.054, which exempts two-family homes from site plan review and raises the project-review threshold to 2,500 square feet,
City Council Committee on Legislative Matters · Meeting of May 11, 2026
Northampton Legislative Matters Committee recommends two-family zoning exemption. The City Council Committee on Legislative Matters voted 3-1 on May 11 to recommend ordinance 26.054, which exempts two-family homes from site plan review and raises the project-review threshold to 2,500 square feet, creating parity with single-family homes. Councilor Chris Stratton opposed, citing concerns about removing public process and the adequacy of design standards.
The committee also voted 3-1 to recommend six ordinances implementing traffic changes around Northampton High School as part of a federally funded safety project already under contract. Stratton opposed that package as well, stating the project lacked adequate community input.
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Source: the City Council Committee on Legislative Matters meeting of May 11, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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