PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Residents continue to speak against a proposed dock at Proprietor's Lodge, citing the project as a public safety issue.

The Conservation Commission again continued a notice of intent application for a 12-slip private, seasonal dock at the lakefront restaurant. A NOI for an identical project was denied by the commission in 2019 and the applicant appealed it with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, which then issued a superseding order of conditions.

That order has now expired.

Robert Pensivy said abutters reached out at least five times to mediate the size and location of the marina since "it's basically right on top of a heavily used right of way."

"If you try to put a 24-foot pontoon boat in those interior slips, it's going to come out and cross right into where the kids swim and play," he said.

"Properties located in a residential neighborhood sandwiched between two rights of ways that are deeded to the surrounding neighborhood. These are used for swimming, wading, and fishing by those deeded to them and others."

All of the properties on the south shore of Pontoosuc Lake are only permitted to have up to four motorized boat slips, which Pensivy said the neighborhood has never opposed.

At the last meeting, James Scalise of SK Design was "very comfortable" with the condition of a decades-old concrete wall that would support the dock. He came back with a plan that doesn't use the wall.