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HISTORY

Many changes have taken place in the Amherst Woods neighborhood since it was first developed in the 1980s. In the early years, families bought or built new homes here, worked and raised families, children grew up, and parents retired here or elsewhere. In more recent years, a new generation of young families have moved into Amherst Woods and the cycle begins anew. 

Sewer Extension Project

SEWER EXTENSION PROJECT HISTORY

The Sewer Extension Project in Amherst Woods was initiated in 2011 when several neighborhood residents formed a Sewer Committee and presented facts to the Town that septic systems on two-thirds of the neighborhood lots were reaching the end of their lifespan. The Sewer Committee requested the Town extend the sewer line throughout the neighborhood using the Sewer Enterprise Fund to pay for the project. The project was approved by the Town the same year. Three years later, in 2014, sewer construction began in Amherst Woods and took place in two phases. Phase 1 construction was completed in 2017. Phase 2 construction was completed in 2019. See History of Sewer Extension Project link below for more details. Amherst Woods residents may connect to the new sewer at any time, but are not required to connect until their septic system fails (see Costs of Connecting to Sewer link below).

REPAVING EXISTING SIDEWALKS

In 2015, during Phase 1 of the Sewer Extension Project, AWHA initiated a SIDEWALK PETITION  and delivered a LETTER to the Town Manager requesting that the Town repave existing neighborhood sidewalks at the same time that streets were re-paved during sewer construction. However, only the sidewalk on Teaberry Lane was repaved during the Sewer Extension Project. Just after the Sidewalk Petition was submitted to the Town, the Town Manager, John Musante passed away and shortly after, a new Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) was formed. The TAC now determines the priority for repaving all existing sidewalks in Amherst. Amherst Woods sidewalks on Woodlot Road, Larkspur Drive, and the length of Wildflower Drive have not yet been repaved. Click HERE for more information on the TAC.

A Revoli truck on 1st day of Sewer Extension Project, 2014.

Sewer Extension construction on Woodlot Road, 2014.

Woodlot Sewer Construction.jpeg

Sewer construction on Woodlot Road.

Old Landfill
PROTECTED BIRD HABITAT/ DOG PARK
on Old (South) Landfill 

Endangered Grasshopper Sparrow and ground nest

The Old (South) Landfill has an entrance along Wildflower Drive in the Amherst Woods neighborhood and another entrance on Old Belchertown Road. Ladyslipper Circle in Amherst Woods and Tanglewood Road, in the East Woods neighborhood, abuts the site. The Old (South) Landfill was closed in the 1980s and is used by residents for dog-walking, bird-watching, sledding and for access to the Robert Frost Trail that runs along Pomeroy Pond.  

 

In 2015, as a result of a lawsuit preventing the Town from installing an industrial-sized solar array on the Old (South) Landfill, the site was designated as protected habitat in perpetuity for the Grasshopper Sparrow by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife - Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA-DEP). The New (North) Landfill (current site of the Transfer Station) was also designated protected habitat under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, but MA State officials negotiated with the Town and agreed to allow the Town to install a solar array on the New (North) Landfill with the Town's agreement to preserve, in perpetuity, the Old (South) Landfill as protected habitat for the Grasshopper Sparrow. Kestrel Land Trust was charged with overseeing the Old (South) Landfill's protected bird habitat in perpetuity.

Map of Old (South) Landfill

 Wildflower Drive 

Ladyslipper

  Circle  

Tanglewood Rd

 Larkspur 

 Drive 

 Amherst Woods 

 Neighborhood    

   East Woods    Neighborhood 

 Route 9 

Map of New (North) Landfill Solar Project
North & South Landfills.jpeg

 Route 9 

 Route 9 

Old (South) Landfill 

(Protected Bird Habitat) 

 New (North) Landfill (site of   Transfer Station & Solar Array) 

Dog Park

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© 2018 Amherst Woods Homeowners Association, Inc.

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