Town of Lenox
Planning Board
November 23, 2010
Land Use Meeting Room
Members present: Chair Joseph A. Kellogg, JK; Ken Fowler, KF; Steve Sample, SS; and Gary Schiff, GS.
Members absent: Kate McNulty-Vaughan, KMV.
Staff present: Mary Albertson, Town Planner, MA.
The meeting was called to order at 6:05pm. ~
Approval Not Required Plans: No plans were presented.
Discussion of Zoning Amendments Handout: The Board reviewed a revised proposed zoning amendments handout and members expressed their approval of the document. MA said she forwarded the Outdoor Dining Bylaw to Town Counsel for review, but has not yet received any feedback. The consensus of the Board was to schedule a public informational meeting on the proposed amendments for January 27, 2011. Depending on the input received at this meeting, the Board will either schedule additional informational sessions or begin the formal public hearing process.
Follow up to Board of Selectmen Meeting: Discussion ensued regarding the November 10th meeting with the Board of Selectmen (BOS). JK apologized for being absent from that meeting, but noted that the discussion held with the BOS was not what the Town Manager had advised would be the purpose of the meeting. Although the discussion involved updating the Town’s Master Plan, JK cautioned that it may not be wise to invest the time and energy into such an undertaking at this time. He advised that the Massachusetts Legislature continues to work on a significant overhaul of Chapter 40A, the Zoning Act, which will likely change dramatically the requirements for a Master Plan. Also, if new legislation is passed mandating such Master Plans, it may include state funding. With
cost estimates of a Master Plan in the neighborhood of $100,000, it makes sense to wait and see what happens in the next legislative session. Members agreed with this approach.
Review Correspondence from Abutting Communities: Decisions and notices of public hearings from abutting communities were reviewed.
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Minutes: ~KF made a motion to approve the minutes of October 26, 2010. ~GS seconded the motion and the Board voted 4-0 to approve. SS made a motion to approve the minutes of November 10, 2010. ~GS seconded the motion and the Board voted 3-0-1 to approve. ~JK abstained as he was not at that meeting.
MA reminded members of the November 30, 2010 meeting regarding the Route 7/20 Corridor Study to be held at the Hampton Inn on Pittsfield Road. The event will involve both a public presentation by VHB, the State’s consultant, at 5:00 pm, followed by a joint meeting with the City of Pittsfield Community Development Board to discuss potential zone changes.
GS made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:07 pm. ~KF seconded the motion and the Board voted 4-0 to approve. ~
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Respectfully submitted,
Mary Albertson
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