Joint Meeting
Town of Lenox Planning Board
and
City of Pittsfield Community Development Board
January 17, 2012
Pittsfield City Hall
Lenox Planning Board Members present: Chair Joseph A. Kellogg, JK; Vice Chair Steve Sample, SS; Gary Schiff, GS; Kate McNulty-Vaughan, KMV; and Mark S. Smith, MS.
Pittsfield Community Development Board Members present: Chair Remo DelGallo, RD; Vice Chair Sheila Irvin, SI; Clerk Alf Barbalunga, AB; Florianna Fitzgerald, FF; and Lou Costi, LC.
Staff present: Mary Albertson, Town Planner, MA and Cornelius J.Hoss, City Planner, CJH.
RD called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm with a roll call vote of the members present. Lenox Planning Board members were introduced.
JK offered a project overview of the Route 7/20 Corridor Study project. In 2010, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) was hired by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MDOT) to prepare a corridor study for Route 7/20 for that section of roadway extending from New Lenox Road in Lenox to Dan Fox Drive in Pittsfield. The study included the recommendation that Lenox and Pittsfield jointly develop and adopt a shared zoning overlay district to better control how vehicles enter and exit this heavily trafficked corridor. VHB provided a draft bylaw as part of the corridor study. JK concluded by stating his opinion that the overlay district is a good idea and suggested the communities work together to amend our respective zoning laws.
RD said the overlay zoning district is an innovative idea. SI and AB spoke in favor of the concept. CJH offered information regarding the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) District Local Technical Assistance Program and noted that he and MA worked together to prepare a joint funding request (due January 18th) for BRPC assistance in developing the overlay. MA thanked CJH for his work on the application.
JK suggested that MA and CJH work together on the project and report back to their boards. He also stressed the need for more public information meetings regarding the overlay district. He suggested each board appoint a project liaison.
LC made a motion that the Community Development Board will act as petitioner for the proposed Pittsfield Route 7/20 Corridor Overlay District upon completion of the proposed zoning amendment. ~SI seconded the motion and the Community Development Board voted 5-0 to approve.
LC made a motion that the Community Development Board authorizes City Staff to refine the proposed Route 7/20 Corridor Overlay District zoning amendment in coordination with the Lenox Town Planner and organize future meetings between the Pittsfield Community Development Board and Lenox Planning Board as the project advances. SI seconded the motion and the Community Development Board voted 5-0 to approve.
It was agreed to have additional joint meetings and continue working together on this project.
RD adjourned the meeting at 7:25 p.m.
~~~~~~~~
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Albertson
| 
