GREENFIELD - The hunt for somewhere to develop a new industrial park in Franklin County now focuses on four locations in three communities - Greenfield, Montague and Northfield.
The sites were collectively selected for analysis by municipal officials and the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, and the analysis was done by University of Massachusetts graduate students, who presented their findings yesterday.
The sites are an 80-acre parcel owned by Mackin Construction in Greenfield, adjacent to the existing Interstate 91 Industrial Park; 22 acres owned by the town of Montague next to the Turners Falls Airport Industrial Park; 100 acres owned by Northeast Utilities off Millers Falls Road in Montague; and 144 acres owned by Lane Construction off Route 142 in Northfield.
The analysis by the students, who are in the university's Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning Program, including grading each site on advantages and constraints. The Greenfield property came out with the fewest constraints and the most advantages.
Its four constraints were that it was not served by natural gas; required grading to make it useable; had some wetlands to avoid; and had no direct access to a rail line. But the 80-acre Mackin property has sewer and water, a willing seller pending successful negotiation, does not require a zoning change, and has "good trucking access," the students concluded.
In October, 2003, the regional council began the quest to come up with suitable new industrial property after an inventory found that what was available would be used up in a decade.
There were 116 parcels in the six existing industrial parks, and only 15 of them were suitable and available, council planners said.
"We need to start planning for the next industrial park," Margaret M. Sloan, director of planning and development for the council, said at the time.
Sloan said yesterday that the students' findings will be put into a formal report and feasibility studies will follow.
"Their findings determined each site has potential," she said.
Yeonhwa Park of Food Science finds a food compound that can help treat osteoporosis
James Holden of Microbiology says deep sea microbes could resemble potential alien life
New ideas for Kendrick Park from Landscape Architecture students at UMass Amherst
Susan Leschine of Microbiology discovers Q microbe that produces ethanol
Stephen Herbert and Susan Leschine of UMass Amherst are researching local crops that can be used for biofuel
Om Parkash of Plant, Soil & Insect Sciences is engineering a rice plant that resists uptake of arsenic
Paul Fisette of Natural Resources Conservation says roof replacement is the perfect opportunity to lower energy bills
Joseph Elkinton of Plant, Soil & Insect Sciences finds that a 1989 fungus is taking a major toll on gypsy moths
John Clark of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry finds that insecticides used on golf courses are no threat to golfers
D. Julian McClements of Food Science finds that proteins and dietary fibers can be produced by electrostatic deposition
Baoshan Xing of Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences finds new way to clean wastewater from agricultural plants
Guy Lanza, Director of the Environmental Science Program, is trying to curb damage caused by hydroelectric dams in Asia.
Two NRE alumni, Charles Feldberg and David Pimentel will be receiving honorary doctoral degrees from the University.
NRE scientist Om Parkash speaks about engineering rice plants that resist the uptake of arsenic in the latest UMass TechCast.
Kathleen Arcaro of Vet and Animal Sciences has found chemicals used in Teflon and Scotchguard in human breast milk
John Burand receives a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study the nationwide disappearance of Honey Bees.
Climate change could significantly change the water quality in New England according to NRE researcher Timothy Randhir.
Resource Economics Professor Julie Caswell says high food costs are likely to go down soon as farmers produce more food.
NRE food scientist Kalidas Shetty finds red wine and tea can help regulate the blood sugar levels of those with diabetes.
Former NRE graduate student Dr. Agnes Abera Kalibata named State Minister for Agriculture in Rwanda, Africa.
NRE economists find that Wal-Mart Supercenters force competitive pricing on local goods, especially groceries.
NRE Professor Janice Telfer recieves first ever "Armstrong Fund for Science" grant for her work with adult stem cells.
NRE researchers found 'Elephants Without Borders', a conservation program that will study African elephant populations.
UMass Equestrian Team stuns Mount Holyoke, snapping an 11-year championship streak... moves on to the next round.
NRE research is ensuring the long-term environmental and economical viability for the Massachusetts agricultural industry
Two NRE Professors work to demystify cancers by analyzing the enzymes and genes significant to their diagnosis.
An NRE research team has found that protein Deer Tick saliva may help inhibit HIV from attacking the human immune system.
NRE research has found a way to encapsulate fat in fiber, creating low-calorie foods that retain their high-fat flavor.
Families are abandoning pasteurized milk, giving up a process Eric Decker claims was a major public health breakthrough
NRE Scientists receive three-year, $450,000 NSF grant to study the effects of suburbanization on plant evolution..jpeg)
Kevin McGarigal has been awarded a $750,000 NSF grant to develop a system of tracking wildlife using digital photography.
Richard Rogers has infused a dose of enthusiasm and teaching skill to energize his students about statistics.
Elizabeth Stuart tries an out-of-the-box approach to find a cure for the airborne chlamydia virus.
Kalidas Shetty's research into cranberries has helped scientists discover the fruit's effectiveness in treating bacterial infections.
James Holden has been awarded over $600,000 by the NSF to study microorganisms in deep-sea volcanic environments.
Peggi Clouston has organized the first Wood Structures Symposium, which will cover the latest in wood engineering and construction.
UMass Amherst Cranberry Station is conducting research on eight new varieties to help local growers improve production.
NRE Microbiologist Susan Leschine is named one of the "Top Ten Women in Cleantech" for her work developing the Q-microbe.
Turfgrass Management alum, Jim Reinertson, has opened a new golf course in York, Maine that is designed for shorter games.
Professor Susan Leschine, Microbiology, is working with SunEthanol Inc. on the Q Microbe which produces cellulosic ethanol.
Vet and Animal Sciences student Lauren O'Connell has been assisting Professor Joseph Jerry with his research on breast cancer.
Melissa Russell found her niche when she switched into the Environmental Sciences program in NRE.
Robert Childs says millions of cicadas will mature into adulthood at the same time in 2008, an event that occurs only once every 17 years.
David Kittredge says suburban sprawl is threatening wildlife habitats and reducing natural water filtration.
UMass Amherst Vegetable and Agronomic Crops Research Field Day to showcase new facilities and current research.
Rodney Rountree is learning how to track different species of fish by keeping his ear to the ocean.
Joe Elkinton says that while the hemlock wooly adelgid threatens the hemlock population in Massachusetts, there is hope.
Wilmore Webley's course on cancer and AIDS has had a significant impact on the smoking habits of students, causing many to quit.
NRE students have created a 3D model of nearly all buildings on the Amherst campus using Google Sketchup and Google Earth.
Professor Barbara Osborne has been granted $5 million in order to study the effects of an enzyme on cancer and other diseases.
Julian McClements attempts to reduce the digestibility of bad fat in foods to make them healthier without sacrificing taste.
Julie Caswell, resource economics, served on a research committee dedicated to better communicating the health benefits of fish.
Barbara Osborne receives an outstanding accomplishment award at the UMass Amherst Faculty Convocation.
Emeritus landscape architecture professor Nick Dines creates a 'living landscape' in the center of Williamsburg.
Entomology professor Stephen Rich weighs in on the safety of pesticides being used in new home sprinkler systems.
Eric Decker and Julian McClements, faculty members in Food Science, have been ranked among the top 25 authors in the agricultural sciences.
UMass researcher pursues genetic clues to breast cancer
Professor Derek Lovley's research team has boosted the electrical output of microbial fuel cells more than 10-fold by utilizing biofilms.
Professor Prasanta Bhowmik has received a Fulbright award to teach graduate weed management and ecology courses in Bangladesh.
Professor Jack Ahern is leading a study for greenway development, including bikepaths and riverfront access in Chicopee.
Professor Guy Lanza has received a Fulbright grant to develop Vietnam's first master's program in environmental health sciences.
Looks are important, particularly when it comes to managing the nation's forests, according to a report by Professor Robert Ryan.
2006 NRE Outstanding Achievement Award nominations are now being accepted. Nominating letters due April 3rd.
Yeonhwa Park and Deborah Good have received a $260,000 grant to investigate a compound with anti-obesity properties.
UMass Amherst will be the lead research center in a global effort to develop the tools needed to treat infectious animal diseases.
Professor Henry Lu helps students and alums find their way through the challenges and rewards of landscape architecture.
Landscape architecture students travel abroad to see for themselves the classic architecture and urban spaces of Italy.
The Environmental Sciences program teams up with Spectrum Analytical to give students hands-on training in the lab.
Professor Julie Caswell is developing tools to help government officials assess risks and factor in food safety.
Twenty-five years and 25,000 students later, Albey Reiner reflects on his popular class, the Biology of Cancer and AIDS.
Helicopter rides, brown bears, and wrestling with 50-pound king salmon. Seth Beaudrealt describes his internship in Alaska.
UMass Amherst Durfee Conservatory features blooming Camellia trees at an open house Sunday the 29th from 2-5pm.
UMass Amherst researchers have developed a technique to screen for live bacteria that could improve food safety.
Team not saddled with fame
UMass Amherst equestrian team boasts a strong group of riders for the 2005-2006 season.
UMass Amherst welcomes alpacas to Hadley Farm with the launch of the nation's first undergrad program in Camelid Studies.
Research into microbes that can harvest electricity from waste matter and clean up polluted sites has garnered a $21.8M award.
Derek Lovley and Kalidas Shetty receive outstanding accomplishment awards at the UMass Faculty Convocation
Nature lover: UMass botanist searches the world's forests for libido boosters
Landscape architecture students build a commemorative garden honoring Cold Spring Orchard's founders and contributors.
UMass department of Food Science hosts an international conference on omega-3s and their use to fortify everyday foods.
After 20 years, Corwin still thrives on call of the wild
A Sugar Cube, Please: I Need to Charge My Cellphone
The Bay State's annual Livestock Classic is set to begin
The 70th Annual Bay State Livestock Classic will be held Saturday, April 23rd from 8am-4pm at the UMass Hadley Farm
Butterfly's beauty aids its survival
They talk a turf game
UMass Professor Appointed To Study Green Schools for National Research Council
Recycle This
New York air to have its genes sequenced
Stockbridge and NRE Students display their many talents at this years New England Grows Conference
Charlie Schweik, Assistant Professor of Natural Resources Conservation receives NSF CAREER award
The Asia of Amherst
Mars life report not so far-fetched
Ice dam headaches
MassPIRG looking for new members
Two LARP grad students have won an international competition with a design for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics.
Construction begins on a new building at the Joseph Troll Turf Research Center in South Deerfield.
Hair Wars
No room to grow
On Campus, Hanging Out by Logging On
Winter Moths invade the Northeast for the first time
Art projects, gardens suggestions for Turner site
Researcher sees cabbages and kings