Town of Lenox
Planning Board
November 30, 2010
Hampton Inn Conference Center – 445 Pittsfield Road
Members present: Chair Joseph A. Kellogg, JK; Ken Fowler, KF; Kate McNulty-Vaughan, and Gary Schiff, GS.
Members absent: Steve Sample, SS.
Staff present: Mary Albertson, Town Planner, MA.
Also present were members of the City of Pittsfield Community Development Board and planning staff.
JK called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm and thanked the Pittsfield Community Development Board members for agreeing to meet. Introductions were made.
Massachusetts DOT Project Consultant, Vanasse, Hangen, Brustlin (VHB), gave a presentation on potential zoning amendments in the Route 7/20 Corridor Study area which could help ameliorate the traffic conflicts. The amendments involved using the Town’s current Site Plan Review requirements as a base and adding corridor access management requirements for certain new projects involving either a structural increase of 2,000 square feet; ten or more new parking spaces; or fifty or more new vehicle trip during the peak hour. It was noted that the final report is being prepared and comments are welcomed through early next week.
Comments from both Boards’ members included:
- clarification that the proposal was a new zoning district and not an overlay district.
- the fact that current district requirements would apply to projects that are less than the new
standards for review.
- the new zoning district would mirror the study area and not include areas in Lenox or Pittsfield
outside the study area.
- the potential for 1,999 square foot projects to avoid the new regulations.
Discussion ensued regarding the process to reduce the speed limit. VHB explained that the process to lower the posted speed limit is controlled by MassDOT. It is a cumbersome process and is generally not successful.
Members from both Boards expressed support for the zoning concept. JK noted that future redevelopment will probably include national chains, making it more important that the changes be implemented now. MA said that she and Pittsfield Community Development Director Deanna Ruffer have discussed the possibility of retaining Attorney Mark Bobrowski be to review the proposed changes and asked if BRPC could provide funds for this effort.
Members discussed the logistics of working together on both communities adopting the proposed zoning. It was agreed that a reasonable timeframe for adoption would be six to nine months.
JK adjourned the meeting at 8:00 PM
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Respectfully submitted,
Mary Albertson
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