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Date: 3/8/2022
NORTHAMPTON – During a meeting on March 4, the Northampton City Council voted 8-1 to allow the city to acquire the property at 196 Cooke Ave. for the development of an animal control facility.
The decision comes after a City Council and Finance Committee meeting, and two meetings with abutters at Pines Edge condo complex-one of which involved a sound test at the proposed facility with Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, eight city councilors and other city officials.
The vote allows the city to appropriate $100,000 to purchase the property at 196 Cooke Ave. where the old Moose Lodge is currently located and owned by Apple Tree LLC, adding to the $795,000 already appropriated for the project. According to Sciarra, “dozens” of other locations have been investigated for the possibility of implementing an animal control facility.
“This [land] has a significant enough dual purpose or added benefit of being able to preserve access to this really important conservation land … that we feel it would be a good piece of property to purchase for a price that became reasonable for us,” said Sciarra, regarding the Cooke Avenue property.
Over these past few meetings, many residents who abut the property, specifically ones who live in the Pines Edge condo complex, have expressed concern about the level of noise, lack of sanitation, a possible drop in property values and lack of respectability for an area that many residents argued should be for conservation instead. Others have argued that a large quantity of dogs that walk around unleashed in that area could cause problems near the kennel, as well.
According to Christine Clark, a resident of Pines Edge, of the 55 households surveyed in the immediate neighborhood of the facility, 44 opposed the project and eight decided not to sign the petition. These numbers were provided at the sound test, according to Clark.
“I do not support this kennel being built in our residential area,” Clark said during the council meeting on March 3. “Our city councilors and mayor are elected by us to represent our interests as residents. We walked around in freezing cold weather to 55 homes … the people have spoken, and you continue to move your agenda forward without considering your constituents.”
One resident said, “I understand that the vast majority of the abutters are against the kennel being placed at this location, and I feel that this fact needs to be respected. I would like to ask the city to pause this project until concerns and questions can be answered.”
Another resident added, “Even if there is only one dog in the pound, there are hundreds of dogs passing by the location, and hundreds of cars going in and out of the parking lot.”
Council President Jim Nash said, “This is about caring for animals. This reflects our values here in Northampton that, if anything, we are a tree city but I consider us a dog-loving city, as well … they are a part of our culture.”
According to Wayne Feiden, the director of Planning & Sustainability, his office will work on the site plan and added that he is “open” to hearing residents’ ideas about how much parking should be implemented at the location. The design of the building will be done by the city’s Central Services department. There is currently no timeline for when this would occur. The Planning Board will have to sign off on any parking plans, and residents will allegedly be allowed to participate in these conversations at a future community meeting, according to Feiden.
“This has been a long-felt need in Northampton, and I’m very sensitive to the concerns by the immediate neighbors,” said Ward 1 Councilor Stan Moulton. “I feel that the noise mitigation will work. At this time, what we’re really talking about is humane treatment of animals, and we’re a city where there are close to 2,000 licensed dogs, so I think it’s time for us to move positively on this.”
Ward 4 Councilor Garrick Perry, meanwhile, believes that the city will be able to mitigate sound at a level comfortable for the abutters if the city allocates enough money toward noise reduction. “We have given a lot of time to this over the years,” Perry. “I think that sometimes we have to move forward.”
According to a noise review provided by Berkshire Design Group, a “chorus” of dogs barking within a dog kennel could reach as high as 122 decibels, which is comparable to the sound of a chainsaw. The study also estimates that a sound reduction of 48 percent is obtained 250 feet away-which is the approximate distance between the lodge and the homes. Additionally, the study also indicates that “building construction and distance as well as earth berms and noise abatement can all be effective means of reducing the noise from an animal control facility.”
“I do think we have a need for this,” said Ward 5 Councilor Alex Jarrett. “I do want to see as much sound proofing as we can possibly get here… [the sound test] gave me enough of an idea that I can feel comfortable moving forward.”
At-Large Councilor Jamila Gore said she was “torn” about the situation, especially since the property is Native American land. “I would like it to be conservation area and an educational area … that would be nice,” said Gore.
Ward 6 Councilor Marianne LaBarge, who was the only one to vote no on the appropriation, stated that she has a problem with the site in general. “I’m not happy with it, and I am looking at quality of life for the dogs, for the cats and also for the people who live in that site area,” said LaBarge, adding that the city should look into working regional with other cities and towns in the area. “I have a problem here that we cannot find another area in the city of Northampton.”
The City Council plans to also discuss their Capital Improvement Plan for 2023 to 2027 during their next meeting on March 17. Reminder Publishing will have further coverage on this matter within the next couple of weeks.