NORTHAMPTON — A proposed development for a 39-unit cluster apartment condo complex hit a speed bump when the Planning Board voted to continue a public hearing on the project largely over traffic concerns.
The Glendale Road development would feature single-story units built along a circular road, leaving an area of open space. About one third of the 79-acre parcel would be built upon, leaving the rest for lawns and vegetation.
In total, the development would add 125,864 more square feet of livable space to Northampton’s housing stock. Two different plans have been drawn up for the condos, and buyers would have options between Units A or B, which differ slightly in style and layout.
The owner-occupied condominiums would be overseen by a homeowners association and would not rely on the Department of Public Works. Streets, sidewalks, and wastewater basins would all be maintained by the private community.
But on Feb. 12, a handful of Glendale Road residents, potential abutters to the development, voiced concerns to the Planning Board about what some described as dangerous traffic conditions of the road, claiming that the development would exasperate an already dangerous corridor.
Rob Levesque of R Levesque Associates, a Westfield-based architecture and engineering firm, answered that based on science rather than anecdotes, the street is suitable for the development.
He cited a 2025 traffic study by Bowman Associates that showed that Glendale Road has approximately 500 vehicle trips per day, and that the current plan “exceeds actual requirements” for slope and sight distance. According to him, the report showed only two vehicular crashes over the span of the study.
To iron out details, receive more information and talk through disagreements between the developers and residents, the board compiled comments and concerns that will be fleshed out more at its next meeting on Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. as developers continue to seek a special permit to begin construction.
Neighbors speak
The condos would be within Ward 6 City Councilor Christopher Stratton’s ward, and he came to share his opinion with the board.
Stratton said he liked the single-story design, allowing people who cannot use stairs housing options. But like many in his ward, he thinks traffic needs more consideration.
“While some housing here makes sense, this most car-dependent corner of the city seems an unwise place for 39 homes,” he said, adding that there are no bus lines nearby and the terrain discourages riding a bike to the grocery store.
Levesque pointed to two crashes over the time the Bowman report was compiled, but Stratton said there have been at least four, a discrepancy that is expected to be ironed out at the board’s next meeting.
Glendale Road resident Karrie Nicorchuck said the road already isn’t wide enough to meet regulation, and the s-shaped winding of the road only increases dangers.
“It’s a very dangerous road — extremely dangerous,” she said. “My daughter just got her license and I worry every night until she get’s passed that s-curve.”
Linda Gauthier said that Glendale, “has blind corners and acts as a relaxed, if you will, s-curve to drive and bike through.”
And since the street adjoins two bike trails, pedestrian safety is also on the line, some residents said.
“The distance that a car would have to pull out to see means the cyclist is already dead,” Gauthier said.