Councilor urges review of sight-line trees as 39-condo Glendale Road project advances

Chris Stratton, Northampton’s newly elected Ward 6 city councilor, used the commission’s public-comment period to warn that a proposal to build 39 condominiums on Glendale Road at Brachy’s Hill has already prompted on-site tree removals and could create dangerous sight-line obstructions for drivers.

"There is a proposal in the works to put 39 condominiums on Glendale Road," Stratton said, adding that the developer has cut a driveway and removed interior trees and that residents reported the loss of trees that contained an owl’s nest. He said foliage and public-right-of-way street trees could reduce visibility on the curved hill and asked how tree-warden and planning-permit reviews interact in situations where public shade trees might obstruct required sight lines.

The commission chair invited Stratton to send written questions to staff so the Forestry Office can assess the site and coordinate with planning staff. The chair noted that if street trees in the public right-of-way are suspected to create a safety hazard, the city’s tree-warden process — including any required public hearing for removals — would need to be considered alongside planning approvals.

The commission did not take formal action during the meeting on the Glendale Road issue. Commissioners suggested follow-up by staff with planning to determine whether sight-line mitigation should be included in permit conditions and encouraged Stratton to provide written questions for a more detailed response.

The next step is for Stratton to send the commission an email outlining his specific questions so staff can research the project’s permitting status and any rights-of-way tree records.