image description

Pittsfield ZBA Continues Seymour Street Marijuana Cultivator Hearing

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Zoning Board of Appeals continued a hearing by request of the applicant True East Leaf.
 
The brief meeting on Wednesday was to act on the request of proposed indoor marijuana cultivators who asked to continue the hearing until February. 
 
"This has been continued for several months at this point," Chairman Albert Ingegni III noted.  
 
True East Leaf looks to operate at 161 Seymour St. and is seeking a special permit to do this. However, according to Permitting Coordinator Nate Joyner, the owners have to put some finishing touches on some design work.
 
Joyner said other than that, they had no more correspondence on the project.
 
"We have not received anything else or any other comments on that," Joyner said.
 
The Community Development Board gave True East Leaf the go-ahead last year. It did waive a city parking requirement but included in its recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals that the permit only be given if True East Leaf can square away its lack of parking and designate off-street parking for employees.
 
The ZBA also heard from True East Leaf in September and although the cultivator's attorney said they solved the parking issue, the board aired its own concerns about parking congestion in the area and possible order and its effect on surrounding businesses.
 
This was also a concern of area restaurant Tahiti Take-Out.
 
That hearing was also continued.
 
Board member John Fitzgerald also pointed out that True East Leaf has asked for multiple continuations. He said as far as his vote, this will be the last one he will allow.
 
"This has gone on for several months," he said. "I think in my opinion this would be the last chance because we have given them plenty of time."
 
The meeting lasted under five minutes and the next meeting was scheduled for Feb. 19. 

Tags: marijuana,   Planning Board,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Truck Falls Through Ice on Pontoosuc Lake, City Issues Warning

Staff Reports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A pickup truck broke through thin ice on Pontoosuc Lake Saturday, but all four individuals fishing nearby safely evacuated without injury.
 
On Saturday, Dec. 28, at 4:17 p.m., the Pittsfield Fire Department responded to a report of a motor vehicle that had fallen through the ice on Pontoosuc Lake near 239 Narragansett Avenue. Initial reports did not indicate whether any rescues were needed.
 
Fire crews, including Car 2, Engine 3, Tower 2, Engine 5/Rescue 2, and Action Ambulance Medic 91, arrived to find four civilians who had safely evacuated the area without injuries.
 
The incident occurred approximately 40-60 feet offshore behind 261 Narragansett Avenue, on the Pittsfield-Lanesborough line. The group, ice fishing at the time, had parked a 2023 Chevy Sierra 2500 pickup truck on the ice, which broke through.
 
Lanesborough and Pittsfield police, along with the Environmental Police, were notified, and the Environmental Protection Agency was also contacted.
 
There were no injuries reported.
 
The Pittsfield Fire Department is urging the public to stay off the ice on all bodies of water, emphasizing that recent weather has not produced the sustained freezing temperatures needed to form thick, stable ice. Both foot traffic and motorized vehicles are unsafe.
 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories