Amherst Eyes Traffic Calming and Recycling Changes Amidst Community Debate

Overview: The Amherst Town Services and Outreach Committee recently convened to discuss several issues, with the focal point being the proposed traffic calming measures on Heatherstone Road. The meeting also covered potential neighborhood speed limit changes, road and sidewalk improvements on Belchertown Road, updates on the organics collection program, and the transition to a single stream recycling system.

Amherst Town Council Tackles Hate Speech and Disruptions

Overview: The Amherst Town Council recently convened to address a variety of issues facing the community, most notably the challenges of managing hate speech and disruptions during public meetings. The council debated approaches to balancing the enforcement of civility with the protection of First Amendment rights.

Amherst Conservation Commission Tackles Wetland Preservation

Overview: The Amherst Conservation Commission met on March 27, 2024, to address various environmental concerns and development projects that pose potential impacts on local wetlands and conservation areas. The most newsworthy topic of the meeting was the discussion surrounding a significant violation involving unauthorized cutting and heavy equipment use on a landlocked parcel, leading to clear-cutting on the bank of a stream and in a bordering vegetated wetland (BVW). The commission issued a cease and desist order to the neighbor believed responsible for the violation and began coordinating with the damaged property’s landowner.

Amherst Committee Grapples with Complex Solar Bylaw Development

Overview: The Amherst Community Resources Committee recently engaged in a review of a draft solar bylaw that has been in development for the past 18 months. In a meeting marked by discussion, the committee examined the need for further refinement of the bylaw, which aims to regulate large-scale ground-mounted solar installations while considering environmental impacts and state laws. Concerns were also voiced regarding the bylaw’s potential to deter developers given the and labor-intensive review process, and the necessity of a separate battery storage bylaw was debated.

Amherst Debates Public Safety Equipment Overhaul

Overview: In a recent meeting of the Amherst Planning Board, several substantial items were discussed, with a particular emphasis on improving the town’s public safety infrastructure. The board considered significant investments in emergency services equipment, including a new radio communication system for police and fire departments, mechanical CPR devices for ambulances, and hybrid vehicles for the police fleet. Additionally, conversations revolved around the integration of radio frequency systems, the potential adoption of electric vehicles, and the replacement of outdated technology across public safety departments.