North Adams Planners OK 10 Short-Term RentalsThe Planning Board approved 10 special permits for short-term rentals during a brief meeting on Monday night. North Adams Planners OK Starbucks Development on Problem CornerThe Planning Board on Monday approved a multi-tenant redevelopment of the former St. Francis property that will include a long-rumored Starbucks. Dalton Planning Board Works to Update Special Permit FeesThe Planning Board is navigating how to update its special permit fees to bring them up to date with the current costs of services. Williamstown Planners OK Preliminary Habitat PlanThe Planning Board on Tuesday agreed in principle to most of the waivers sought by Northern Berkshire Habitat for Humanity to build five homes on a Summer Street parcel. Summer Street Residents Make Case to Williamstown Planning BoardNeighbors of a proposed subdivision off Summer Street last week asked the Planning Board to take a critical look at the project, which the residents say is out of scale to the neighborhood. Williamstown Planning Board Chair to Fin Comm: We're Not the 'Enemy'The chair of the Planning Board last week stopped by a meeting of the Finance Committee to defend the planners' recent activities to promote economic diversity and growth in town. North Adams Planners Reject Setback Waiver for Cannabis OperationThe Planning Board on Monday unanimously shot down a setback waiver request for a cannabis dispensary on River Street across the street from the UNO Community Center. Dalton Planners Explore Tiny Home Amendment to ADU BylawDuring the board's meeting in February, Tiny Home Industry Association President Dan Fitzpatrick joined the meeting via Zoom to give a presentation on tiny homes. Williamstown Planners Balk at Sweetwood Zoning ProposalThe Planning Board last week encouraged the owner of the Sweetwood Independent Living Community to take another stab at a proposed bylaw amendment that would allow for multifamily housing at the Cold Spring Road facility. Deliberations for Ray Robert Excavation & Trucking Special Permit Set for Dec.The fate of Ray Robert Excavation & Trucking's request for a new special permit remains unclear. Williamstown Planners Told to Consider Townwide MeasuresThe cottage court bylaw, which the board is aiming to bring to town meeting in May, would allow up to 12 free-standing dwelling units per acre in the town's General Residence zoning district. North Adams Planners Put Off Decisions on Dispensary, 'Glamp' SiteThe Planning Board on Monday put off deciding on two special permit applications that proponents say will add jobs and contribute to the city's tax base. Vacant North Adams Bank Being Developed for Retail, Public SpaceLatent Build is looking to "break the cycle" with "substantial improvements" to the full 20,000-square-foot site that will create a pedestrian destination. Sweetwood Owner Back Before Williamstown Planning BoardBut attorney Karla Chaffee offered no new language to replace the amendments the landowner proposed and later withdrew for last May's annual town meeting. Manufactured Home Talk Dominates Williamstown Planning BoardFollowing a familiar pattern, the second Planning Board meeting of its 2023-24 cycle was dominated by an issue the board hoped to have settled at the 2023 annual town meeting. North Adams Garage Owner Gets Permit ReprieveNite Owl automotive repair was found to be in compliance with its permit. Williamstown Planning Board Recommends Defeat of Sweetwood Zoning RequestBy late in the hearing, even the attorney representing Sweetwood was suggesting that if the planners could recommend at least one of the amendments, the petitioner would be grateful. Self-Storage Company Building Gated Facility at Former Greenberg'sThe Planning Board has given the go-ahead to build 61,900 square feet of self-storage off Hodges Crossroad. North Adams Planners OK Dirt Track Changes Over Residents' ObjectionsSupporters say the track has provided an outlet for local families, provided training time for youngsters and has had a beneficial economic impact on the city. Pittsfield Community Development Has Light Agenda for First 2023 MeetingAt its first meeting of the year, the Community Development Board last week determined that subdivision approval is not required for an East Street car dealership and welcomed the city's new planner. North Adams Planners OK 11-Room Addition to PorchesThe hotel on River Street is planning to knock down two adjacent buildings at 22-28 Veazie St. and replace them with a new structure that will contain 11 rooms and four studios, and will allow for seven underground parking spaces. North Adams Planners Push Off 3 Business Changes to Allow Wider DebateThe Planning Board pushed three communications on their agenda to the next month to give citizens a chance to speak to the proposed business changes. Dalton Trucking Company in Compliance With Special PermitThe Planning Board has been working with Robert to clarify the terms of the special permit; the complaints have been resolved except for Schnopp's. Williamstown Planning Board Talks 'Cottage Court' BylawThough its work is not completed for the proposals it hopes to bring to this spring's annual town meeting, the Planning Board recently started talking about an idea it wants to work on for the 2023-24 cycle. |