Town of Lenox
Planning Board
October 9, 2012
Land Use Meeting Room
Members present: Chair Kate McNulty-Vaughan, KMV; Steve Sample, SS; Mark S. Smith, MS; Gary Schiff, GS; Kimberly Reopell Flynn, KRF
Selectman present: Channing Gibson
Staff present: Peggy Ammendola, Land Use Clerk, PA; Mary Albertson, Town Planner, MA
Note: The October 2nd meeting was canceled at the last minute due to a lack of quorum and rescheduled for tonight.
Approval Not Required Plans-There were no plans.
Finalize Sandwich Board Sign Regulations: Handouts were:
1) Selectmen Guidelines for Sandwich Board Signs-Adopted May 23, 2012
2) Sign Bylaw Revisions: 5.2.10, KM-V comments
KMV opened the discussion by asking the Board if these regulations should be treated as a General Bylaw. The consensus was that it should be and enforcement would be through the Building Commissioner’s office.
The Board thoroughly reviewed the draft and edits were made.
Section E4 of the draft raised questions. MA said that she does not want to have a bylaw that conflicts with the Building Commissioner’s process. She will consult with Bill Thornton on this item.
It was also agreed that this bylaw would apply to all of Lenox, and not just be an overlay for the Historic District. SS was the only one who objected to sandwich signs being used on Pittsfield Rd.
MA will take the changes that were made and prepare a new draft. KM-V and MS will attend the Selectmen’s meeting on October 17, 2012 to advise them of the Board’s progress and inform them and the community of a public informational meeting at the Planning Board’s meeting on November 13, 2012 at 6:30 PM.
Update on the Open Space and Recreation Plan Project: The first meeting is scheduled for October 10, 2012 at 7:00 PM. This will be an organizational meeting. The Conway School of Design will commence with this project in January.
Discuss Meeting held with 1 Berkshires regarding the Site Locator Service: The Board agreed that the information provided was helpful, but that Realtors® need to upload their properties. CG said that there has been some discussion about engaging a recruiter to find businesses to relocate to Lenox and asked if that idea was supported. GS and KM-V provided information on attempts made by others to recruit, which included trips internationally, but it was expensive. GS suggested that the focus should be on finding a niche for Lenox, and market that. Additionally he said that the Berkshire Visitors Bureau is a powerful engine with international connections. They are marketing Berkshire County, and whatever business comes to the County benefits all of the communities. CG
asked about membership and if there was there one organization to join or if each of them required a separate membership. No one had that answer. CG said that Lauri Klefos of the Berkshire Visitor’s Bureau would be making a presentation to the BOS in the near future.
Discuss Meeting held with BRPC/Pittsfield Community Development regarding the 7&20 Corridor Overlay Bylaw- An incomplete draft was sent out, so this has been put on hold.
Discuss Solar Bylaw-Brian Domina of BRPC recently wrote the article Does Massachusetts General Law c. 40A § 3 Preempt Local Solar Zoning Bylaws? MA provided copies of the article to the Board.
Planning Board Recommendations to Town Boards and commissions-MA advised that Cornelia Gilder, 73 Main St., is on the ZBA agenda for October 17, 2012 seeking a Special Permit for converting a single family home to a duplex.
Review Correspondence from Abutting Communities & BRPC-MA advised that the Board members each received letter from a resident of Laurel Lake about zebra mussels and included a video on the subject. The letters were distributed and MA advised that she has the video if anyone would like to view it.
Minutes-GS made a motion to approve the minutes of September 11, 2012. MS seconded the motion and the Board voted to approve 4-0-1. KRF abstained as she was not present at that meeting.
Other Business:
Material on the Open Meeting Law training session which was held at the Town Hall on September 12, 2012 was passed out to the Board.
SS made a motion to adjourn at 7:33 PM. KRF seconded the motion and the Board voted to adjourn 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Ammendola
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