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Greyock Works owner Salvatore Perry explains the request for a zoning amendment is to allow a rum distillery to operate at the former textile mill.
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The south side of the Greylock Works parking lot completed last fall. The next phase will be on the west side of the building.

North Adams Ordinance Will Allow Alcohol Production at Greylock Works

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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The public hearing for the zoning change required the attendance of the Planning Board and City Council. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Planning Board on Monday voted to recommend a zoning amendment that would allow Greylock Works to open a distillery in an I-2 (industrial) district.
 
During a joint City Council and Planning Board session held immediately prior to the board's regular meeting, the board speedily gave its endorsement to an ordinance change in less than four minutes that would allow the manufacturing of alcohol at Greylock Works.
 
"This is a request made by Greylock Works in order to be able to have the ability to manufacture alcohol on premise which they currently do not by zoning," Planning Board Chairman Michael Leary said. "This is part of their overall plan."
 
Owners of the former textile mill, Karla Rothstein and Salvatore Perry, are in the midst of renovating the property. What is slated to be a $15 million project will include events, food production, restaurants, bar, and a hotel and 23 high-end condominiums.
 
There were few questions for Perry, who attended the meeting, but he did say the distillery plans to make rum.
 
"Specifically, a rum distillery but the application would not restrict us to that," he said.
 
Building Inspector William Meranti said the use was not allowed in the district because of safety concerns. Storing and producing alcohol is a potential fire hazard.
 
He said because the building code now regulates the amount of alcohol that can be stored, suppression regulations and other items, the city should have no concerns. 
 
"I think we have it covered in a different fashion now," he said. 
 
One of the goals of the Greylock Works project is to provide space for artisan food production. A distillery or fermenting facility of some kind has been on its list, along with cheesemaking, baking and other food industries. 
 
After closing the joint public hearing, the Planning Board opened its regularly scheduled meeting and Perry went over Phase 2 of the parking lot improvements.
 
"It would be similar to what we did [in Phase 1]," he said. "Plantings, pedestrian pathways, lighting and permeable paving. It will be similar materials and aesthetic."
 
Much of the parking lot has already been improved and this phase extends toward the Greylock Club and State Road.  The MassDevelopment awarded Greylock Works $1.72 million to complete the parking lot. The project received $2.2 million in 2016 to do the south side of the lot, a reinforced concrete entrance off Protection Avenue and a loading dock. 
 
The mill's expansive Weave Shed has already been utilized for a number of events, including a artisans' festival, the annual PopCares dinner, and recent dances.
 
In other business, the Planning Board approved the application of Ashley Strazzinsk who requested a special permit to operate a social/community flex space for artists, educational workshops and performances in a CA-2 zone on 50 Ashland St.
 
"I am going to open up a studio and office space, but it will also be a community flex space for people to just come, hang out and work in there," she said. "It is also an opportunity to host events and educational workshops."
 
She said usage of the space is temporary and it will only be open May through September. It will eventually be renovated and used for something else.
 
Strazzinsk did ask for a last-minute name change from North Adams Project Space to Ashland Street Project Space. She said she wanted to make this change because the former acronym was the same as the North Adams Public Schools and to better fit the more temporary nature of the space. 
 
The board also approved a special permit request from David Carver who wants to operate a public warehouse with 25 storage spaces in an I-2 zone at 85 Union St., the former Gateway Chevrolet complex. 
 
"The last 40 to 50 years, it has been used for warehousing and light manufacturing," Carver said. "We will continue to use it as warehouse space, but we would like to open it up a little bit more and rent some of the space at the ground level."
 
He said there won't be 24-hour access and only plans for it to be open from 6 a.m. to midnight.
 
Planning Board member Brian Miksic asked if Carver still planned to demolish a section of the mill that connects to the city-owned Windsor Mill. The mill is under a purchase-and-sales agreement, pending environmental testing.
 
Carver said that was his goal and that the area would be used for additional parking. 
 
"We are still working out environmental issues, sprinkler issue, and separation issued," he said. "For years there was an artist there and he left last fall, so now we are moving that project along." 
 
Editor's note: edited April 10 to clarify the Planning Board's vote was advisory. The ordinance will now go to the City Council.

Tags: alcohol,   commercial zoning,   distillery,   greylock works,   

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McCann and Taconic Awarded CTI Grants

Staff Reports
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced $525,482 in Career Technical Initiative (CTI) implementation grants awarded to two organizations in the Berkshires to train 80 individuals for careers in high-demand occupations within the trades, construction, and manufacturing sectors in the region. 
 
In North Adams, McCann Technical School was awarded $344,871 to provide training to 60 participants for Automotive Technician, Advanced Manufacturing, and Welding positions. They will partner with T&M Auto Sales Inc., Berkshire Bridge & Iron Co. Inc., Haddad GMC, Haddad Subaru, Bedard Brothers Auto Sales Inc., Lenco Armored Vehicles, TOG Manufacturing, Sinicon Plastics, Adams Plumbing & Heating Inc., and Gills Point S Tire.
 
"We are excited to be working with our MassHire team to continue to address our workforce needs and build talent pipelines and career pathways in Advanced Manufacturing, Welding and Automotive Technician," McCann Superintendent James Brosnan said. "This CTI award will provide hands-on training and support as we continue to expand our skilled talent pool for employers in the Berkshires."
 
In Pittsfield Taconic High School was awarded $180,610 to provide training to 20 participants for Metal Fabrication and Auto Technology positions. They will partner with O.W. Landergren Inc., Lenco Industries Inc., Bedard Brothers, Haddad's Auto Group, and RW's Auto Inc.
 
"Pittsfield Public Schools is incredibly grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Commonwealth Corporation for the CTI award to Taconic High School. This grant will have a significant and lasting impact on our community by providing skilled technicians to address critical shortages in Berkshire County," said Superintendent Joseph Curtis. "We are excited to partner with Lenco Industries, Haddads, Bedards, RW Auto, O.W. Landergren, Northeast Fabricators, and the MassHire Berkshire Career Center. These partnerships will serve as a catalyst for positive change, ensuring that our trainees are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st-century workforce, while simultaneously strengthening our local economy."
 
The CTI grant program, a state-funded workforce initiative, partners with career and technical education schools to provide adult learners, especially unemployed and underemployed individuals from underserved populations and underrepresented groups, with career training and technical skills to meet the needs of Massachusetts employers. The program transforms career and technical education schools across the state to become "Career Technical Institutes" that run after dark programs in the construction/trades, manufacturing, and skilled trades career pathways. 
 
"Addressing our workforce needs and building talent pipelines and career pathways in construction, trades and manufacturing sectors is a priority for this administration," said Governor Maura Healey. "CTI offers hands-on training that will support our jobseekers, workers and employers. We're proud to expand the CTI awards to these two schools in the Berkshires to strengthen our workforce and grow our economy throughout the state."  
 
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