DALTON, Mass. — The town is mulling the idea of allowing businesses other than banks and car washes to have drive-throughs.

 

On Thursday, the Planning Board continued the vote on a proposed drive-through bylaw amendment that would allow such a facility at any primary business use. The panel will take up the proposal again at its next meeting on Wednesday.

 

Town Planner Grant McGregor presented the bylaw amendment to the board.

 

In Chapter 350 of the town's code, the Table of Use Regulations states that drive-through facilities are permitted for banks, financial institutions, and car washes only with all other uses specifically excluded.

 

The amendment states that drive-through facilities are currently permitted for banks, financial institutions, and all other primary business uses for the purpose of growing economic development.

 

The board voted to add a section to the proposal stating that drive-through facilities for primary uses (other than banks and car washes) are not permitted in the town's four residential zones.

 

In business and industrial districts, primary use drive-throughs would be permitted through a special permit with the Board of Appeals.

 

The current bylaw states that banks with drive-throughs and carwashes are permitted in all residential zones and require a special permit from the Board of Appeals for business and industrial zones.  Part of why the board continued the vote was to make sure that it does not interfere with existing businesses.

 

Other town panels have weighed in on the bylaw proposal with varying views.

 

After some clarification, the Traffic Commission took a vote of no objection that same day.

 

Last Monday, the town's Historical Commission held a special meeting to discuss the proposal and voted not to approve it as written. The commission would like to have it spelled out that no drive-throughs excluding banks and car washes are allowed in the town's historic districts.

 

"It is a vital importance that the historic integrity of the downtown corridor be protected," the commission's vice chair wrote to the Planning Board. "Many towns in Berkshire County do not allow drive-thrus in the historic downtown corridors and we feel Dalton should follow their example in keeping our appeal as a small historic New England town."

 

The Dalton Review Board, which is strictly an advisory board with no power to approve or disprove any issue, submitted correspondence saying it does not see any issues with the existing historic district and that there doesn't appear to be any business or industrial properties in the historic district.

 

During a 2014, town meeting, a drive-through bylaw amendment was not passed.  

 

Selectman John Boyle spoke to the opposition.

 

"The opposition feels as though like a McDonald's is going to move to Dalton and open up on Main street next to St. Agnes' church, that's literally been said by the past chairman of the Planning Board," he said.

 

"Well, that's really fear-mongering 101. First of all, you have to be in the business zone to even apply for a drive-through window permit from the zoning board of appeals so that rules out 99 percent of Main Street because a lot of the businesses even on Main Street are on residential property."