Zoning study eyes future for Hampshire campus

From Amherst News

• Planning Board advances PRP housing rezoning. Amherst's Planning Board pushed ahead on a rezoning plan for housing in the Professional and Research Park, with most parcel owners now receptive to mixed-use senior housing, as members opened a fight over how to rein in parking tied to accessory dwelling units.Amherst News
• School panel debates HR hire funded by windfall. Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee weighed creating a new human resources position funded by a state aid windfall, with one member warning against building budget habits on one-time money, as the panel also took up calendar changes and staff pay.Amherst News
• Planning Board previews five-story UMass zoning overlay. Amherst's Planning Board focused its East Amherst zoning study on the Route 9 and Belchertown Road corridor, calling the gateway "a very ugly duckling," while previewing a possible five-story development zone near UMass that one member acknowledged will draw resident pushback.Amherst News
• School panels tackle identity policy, restraint rules. Amherst, Pelham and the regional school committees met jointly to act on an identity-affirming policy shaped by a labor grievance, then turned to proposed procedures on physical restraint and seclusion that a parent advisory group asked members to slow down on.Amherst News

Amherst on Wed, Oct 7

• Town begins zoning study for Hampshire College site. Amherst has launched a zoning study to plan future uses of the Hampshire College campus after the college announced it will end academic operations in December 2026, town officials said this week.Town of Amherst
• Education collaborative lands $375,000 wellbeing grant. The Collaborative for Educational Services has received a $375,000 grant to advance the Amherst Wellbeing Alliance, part of an effort to support health and wellbeing programs for Amherst residents, Amherst Indy reported.Amherst Indy
• Town details nearly $4 million road paving plan. Amherst is investing nearly $4 million in its fiscal 2027 pavement management plan, outlining roads to be paved and repaired this fall and next spring, with work expected to be done by June 30, 2027.Town of Amherst
• State election set for November 3, voting options listed. Amherst reminded voters that the state election is Tuesday, November 3, and that residents can vote by mail, vote early in person, vote absentee, or vote in person on Election Day.Town of Amherst

Coming up

• Thu, Oct 8, 1:00 p.m.: Town Council panel meets on community resources. The Community Resources Committee of the Amherst Town Council meets Thursday at 1 p.m., according to the town's public meeting calendar.Town of Amherst
• Thu, Oct 8, 6:00 p.m.: Mass Book Awards reading set for Thursday. Amherst hosts a Mass Book Awards Longlist Reading Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at 154 Orchard Hill Drive.Town of Amherst
• Thu, Oct 8, 7:00 p.m.: Affordable housing trust board meets Thursday night. The Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust meets Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. as the town continues work on affordable housing initiatives.Town of Amherst
• Sun, Oct 11: Tiny art show wraps up Sunday in North Amherst. The Biggest Tiny Art Show at the Mill District Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road, accepts final 2-inch by 2-inch artwork through Sunday, October 11, with pickup running October 13 through 17.Mill District Local Art Gallery
• Mon, Oct 12: Town offices, schools closed Monday for holiday. Amherst town offices will be closed Monday, October 12 for Indigenous Peoples Day, and Amherst-Pelham schools are also closed that day.Town of Amherst
• Mon, Oct 12: Amherst-Pelham football hosts Putnam Vo-Tech Monday. Amherst-Pelham Regional's football team plays a non-conference game against Putnam Vo-Tech of Springfield on October 12, according to MaxPreps.MaxPreps
• Tue, Oct 13: Amherst-Pelham volleyball faces Easthampton Tuesday. Amherst-Pelham Regional's volleyball team takes on Easthampton in a non-conference match on October 13, MaxPreps reported.MaxPreps
• Wed, Oct 14, 7:00 p.m.: Conservation Commission meets Wednesday evening. Amherst's Conservation Commission meets Wednesday, October 14, from 7 to 10 p.m., per the town's public meeting calendar.Town of Amherst
• Thu, Oct 15: Cultural Council grant applications due October 15. The Amherst Cultural Council is accepting grant proposals through Thursday, October 15, for up to $56,000 in funding for community arts, humanities and science events.Town of Amherst
• Fri, Oct 16: Community Preservation grant applications due October 16. Amherst's Community Preservation Act Committee is accepting applications through October 16 for projects supporting community housing, historic preservation, open space and recreation.Town of Amherst
• Sat, Oct 17, 11:00 a.m.: Household hazardous waste day set for October 31. Amherst's Household Hazardous Waste collection runs Saturday, October 31 at Wildwood Elementary School, with registration required by Monday, October 19.Town of Amherst
• Sat, Oct 17, 11:00 a.m.: Tilted Orbit plans North Amherst launch party. Tilted Orbit, a new business opening in North Amherst, plans a launch party Saturday, October 17 at 11 a.m. at 113 Cowls Road, Patch reported.Patch

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