Northampton Planning Board Delays Woodbine Vote, Opens Setback Debate

Planning Board · Meeting of January 22, 2026

Northampton Planning Board continues Woodbine Avenue site plan, opens debate on side setbacks and two-family zoning. The board voted unanimously to continue review of a proposed two-family development at 52 Woodbine Avenue to February 12 at 8:30 p.m., after the applicant submitted new stormwater and utility plans hours before the meeting, leaving no time for DPW review. City planner Carolyn told the board that the Department of Conservation and Recreation had declined to permit a private connection to the Mass Central Rail Trail from the property, and that the board will need to formally waive the connectivity requirement as part of its eventual approval.

The board also took up two draft zoning amendments, one to exempt most two-family homes from site plan review, another to reduce Urban Residential B side setbacks from 15 feet to as little as 10 feet, but took no formal action on either, with member Chris warning the setback change would be "a huge impact" that residents might not anticipate until construction begins in their neighborhoods. Staff was asked to return with district maps and illustrative renderings of 10-foot setback infill before further action.

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Source: the Planning Board meeting of January 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.