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Pittsfield firefighters are battling a major structure fire on North Street.
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North Street has been blocked off past Linden Street.
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Pittsfield Firefighters Battling 3-Alarm Blaze on North Street

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Firefighters were battling a large blaze on North Street late Wednesday night. 
 
The fire at 6 White Terrace was called in shortly before midnight as a structure fire and a third alarm was called in. 
 
Smoke could be seen billowing from the upper floors of the four-story building that fronts on North Street not far from Berkshire Medical Center. 
 
This fire appears to be in the middle section of the building. There's heavy smoke and flames can be seen coming out of windows, and the roof.
 
North Street was blocked off from at least Linden Street to White Terrace and a smoky haze covers the area. 
 
The apartment building was the scene of a fire in 2017 on the north end of the three-structure complex. At least two dozen people had to be evacuated at that time and four people were treated at the hospital.
 
Fire Department officials were unable to comment at this time and the building is reportedly unoccupied.
 
Hinsdale Fire Department and its rehab bus are on the scene as are Lenox firefighters. Police are not allowing anyone close to the scene and visibility is low from smoke.

Tags: structure fire,   

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Pittsfield Looks to Update Zoning for ADUs

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Accessory dwelling units will be by-right in early 2025 and the city wants to be prepared.

On Tuesday, the Community Development Board voted to become the petitioner for amendments to the City Code that reflect the new ADU legislation. City Planner Kevin Rayner has crafted a draft ordinance that the board will dig into before it goes to the City Council.

As a part of the $4.1 billion Affordable Homes Act signed into law over the summer, ADUs up to 900 square feet can be built by right in single-family zoning districts.

"This legislation will go into effect February 2, 2025, so we're trying to get our ordinance to accommodate ADUs by that point," Rayner said.

"Our ordinance wasn't prohibitive against accessory dwelling units, but we do need to up our dimensional requirements to kind of accommodate for them as they are, sort of like an accessory structure, in a way but they have some different requirements because they are being used as a dwelling."

The city plans to allow ADUs in a one- to two-family residential use, allowing for duplexes that meet other requirements to have one.

Most of the amendments will take place in Article 23 Section 9.101, which outlines restrictions for accessory buildings.  

"They're mostly dimensional. We're going to make it so that maybe you can't take up more than 20 percent of the lot coverage," Rayner said.

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