| Projects |
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| Written by Administrator |
| Wednesday, April 30 2008 03:53 |
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Green Communties Act Holyoke has been designated as a Green Communtiy through the State's Green Communties Act as one of the 1st of 35 communities across the State leading the way on energy reduction as a community. As an incentive to work towards the designation, the City has received 5 solar powered trash compactors to be placed throughout the community as well as a grant through the State to be used towards reducing the City's energy consumption.
Background In 2008 the Massachusetts Legislature created the Green Communities Program. The program encourages "green" behavior by muncipalities which focuses on reducing energy efficiency.
An Energy Task Force has been created consisting of the DPW, School Department, Building Department, Planning & Development Department, Holyoke Gas & Electric working together towards goals and implementation of those goals through grant applications.
Qualifying as a Green Community allows a community to apply for grants to finance all or a portion of the cost of studying, designing, constructing and implementing energy efficiency activities, including but not limited to energy efficiency measures and projects; procurement of energy management services; installation of energy management systems; adoption of demand side reduction initiatives, and the adoption of energy efficiency policies.
Holyoke received a grant from the State for adopting the Green Communities Act in the amount of $321,221 which is being used to reduce the municipalities energy consumption. See link below
The City continues to work to reduce energy consumption and increase green energy production within the community. One opportunity is through the Green Communities Electric Vehicle Charging Station Grant which Holyoke has applied for. The grant will provide the charging stations and assistance for installation costs.
Canalwalk The Canalwalk is a pedestrian and bicycle promenade that will line the City's historic canals. The Canalwalk is an urban revitalization project which is expected to be a catalyst for economic development in Holyoke. The project will link City Hall, Holyoke Heritage State Park, Holyoke Arts Corridor, Holyoke Children's Museum, the future Connecticut Riverwalk, and many businesses, artist studios, and other interesting destinations. It will feature a 12 to 20 foot wide promenade, benches, decorative paving, historic lighting, and canal-front landscaping.
Phase II plans will be submitted to MassDOT for 25% review this Spring. Stay tuned.
Commonwealth Capital The City of Holyoke has consistently scored within the top 6 of the 351 communities within Massachusetts on the state's Commonwealth Capital Application since it came out.
2008 COMMONWEALTH CAPITAL APPLICATION 2009 COMMONWEALTH CAPITAL APPLICATION 2010 COMMONWEALTH CAPITAL APPLICATION
The Office of Planning & Development manages the City's Brownfields Program. The City has assessed over 30 parcels of land and is looking forward to assessing another round of parcels through the recently received EPA Assessment Grant. The City's program also includes 2 EPA Cleanup projects and a partnership with Nuestras Raices on their EPA CARES Grant.
BROWNFIELD GRANT SUMMARY - a complete listing of all grants received by the City since 2002 for Brownfields remediation and their status and outcomes.
Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Project The Planning Department has partnered with the DPW and the Housing Authority in creating a TOD enhancement project. The project preliminary design was funded through a State TOD Bond Bill Grant of $50,000 and includes design of road reconstruction of Heritage and Front Streets, sewer separation of Heritage Street, and pedestrian improvements for both of the above streets as well as Dwight Street. A public charette was held during the project design at which residents of the area chose the preferred design. Pre-25% design plans have been completed for this Phase I. CDBG has been secured for FY11 to complete the design plans for the Front Street portion of the plans.
The City has partnered with EPA New England staff to submit an application to the Smart Growth Grant Program and were successful in receiving an additional $50,000 to begin design plans Phase II, for connections to the future passanger rail stop.
Center City Vision Plan The City of Holyoke is beginning the Urban Renewal process of the Flats, Churchill, South Holyoke, Prospect Heights and Downtown areas that have a great need for reinvestment and revitalization in order for Holyoke's City Center to thrive and prosper.
The goal of this study is to create vibrant, diverse, safe neighborhoods in downtown Holyoke where all residents can live, work, and play. This study sets the vision for a future Urban Renewal Plan within this area.
The planning process included three Public Forums to discuss; issues and opportunities, alternative vision plans and the preferred vision plan.
COPIES OF THE FINAL PLAN ARE AVAILABLE AT THE OFFICE OF PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
PREFERRED VISION PLAN
Ingleside Traffic Study The City received a grant from the State to study and develop design recommendations to improve traffic in the Ingleside neighorhood through the Chapter 43D legislation. Work has begun on the study with initial data collection, including a public meeting to gather first hand knowledge from the residents of the area. Below are materials from that meeting as well as other relevant data. PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC SOLUTIONS:
Below are the traffic solutions as presented at the Second Public Meeting on January 29th. The next step will be to incorporate comments from the public meeting into the drawings to complete the final report of improvement alternatives.
Priority Development Sites (Chapter 43D): Holyoke has accepted Chapter 43D-Expedited Permittingand has been approved for a Priority Development Site through the State's Interagency Permitting Board. The City has chosen Kelly Way as their first site and has committed to make all decisions on reviews within 180-days on that site. As a part of this project the City also received a $100,000 grant which will be used to further study the traffic concerns in the Ingleside Neighborhood. Other activities that the City is engaging in to further expedite permitting are creating a permitting handbook and working to hold more joint public hearings on sites.
Holyoke Priority Development Site Locus Map Kelly Way Priority Development Site Map Kelly Way Property Information Sheet http://www.massachusettssitefinder.com/
Holyoke's 1st Priority Development Site was fully permitted in 69 days!!
EPA Energy Challenge
The City of Holyoke is a member of the Environmental Protection Agency's New England Community Energy Challenge. This challenge assists communities in finding ways to reduce their energy use and increase renewable energy use in a cost-effective manner. Holyoke has committed to the Energy Challenge and has completed an energy use baseline. With this baseline, we are working towards implementing ways to improve the City's energy efficiency. The City has designed an Energy Reduction Plan in reducing energy consumption in the City, currently and for the future. The Energy Reduction Plan can be viewed from the link above under "Green Communities Act".
Regional Committees
BARNES AQUIFER PROTECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (BAPAC): Holyoke is a part of the Barnes Aquifer Protection Advisory Committee with the goal of protecting the Barnes Aquifer from drinking water quality issues. Collaborating with 3 other local communities (Westfield, Easthampton and Southampton) and the Pioneer Valley Commission, the committee meets once a month to discuss Developments of Regional Impact and other issues dealing with the aquifer. The committee also educates people about the importance of groundwater protection and role of the aquifer. To learn more about the Barnes Aquifer and BAPAC, click the link below.
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| Last Updated on Thursday, March 17 2011 11:44 |
