Adams Memorial Theatre, with steel girders of new performing arts center at right and crane looming overhead.(Photo by Linda Carman)
WILLIAMSTOWN - Like a 747 seeking to land, the proposed 70-foot-tall lights to illuminate a proposed artificial turf field were diverted to Weston Field after residents of Syndicate Road turned out in force this fall to protest locating it at nearby Poker Flats.
But just as those residents objected that the lights would change the character of their neighborhood, so now do residents of Meacham Street, saying they already endure more than their fair share of games and activities at Weston.
“This is not simply a case of ‘NIMBY’(‘not in my back yard’),†they wrote in a recent letter to Williams President Morton O.
Schapiro. “As things stand, we already accommodate more than our fair share of activities and facilities at and around the Weston complex throughout the year.â€
A Williams College committee is now evaluating plans for the turf field and lights, and it is likely to be “weeks, rather than days or months†before any decision will be made, according to spokesman James Kolesar.
But the proposal continues to rankle some residents, some of whom view Williams as having encroached on local neighborhoods and changed their character. Recent large projects have included a $50-million-plus performing arts center next to Adams Memorial Theatre and its adjoining parking garage. Before that, the college erected a huge science center and studio arts center above Water Street. And it is about to build a retail, office and apartment complex at the foot of Spring Street, just a soccer-ball kick away from Weston.
“Surely no other neighborhood in town is as impacted as we already are from college activities and facilities,†the Meacham Street residents wrote. “To place another major attraction such as a lighted artificial turf field in our neighborhood would be manifestly unfair and place a disproportionate burden on us.â€
The neighbors are not the only opponents. The college’s astronomy faculty and its Science Executive Committee, composed of chairmen of science departments, say the lights they would create light pollution that would interfere with astronomical observations.
Astronomy Professor Jay Pasachoff said, “it is difficult for me to see how in the face of unified faculty opposition by such a wide range of department chairs that the lights could be installed as the Weston site, and I sincerely hope the decision will be not to use the lights. It’s an interesting discussion, and we’re waiting for the results.â€
Karen Kwitter, astronomy department chairwoman said. “Every time outdoor lighting is added, it has the potential to impede our observing the night sky. We would like the sky to be as dark as possible, with a minimum of artificial lights.â€
Factors affecting visibility include the height and wattage of lights and the direction in which they are aimed. Lights have been eroding the darkness for the past couple of decades, Kwitter said.
“From the observatory [Hopkins] we already see the effects of lights on lower Cole Field. Students won’t get to see the real dark night sky. We’re in a remote area of western Massachusetts. We ought to be able to see the stars.â€
She added, “We understand that lighting is essential for safety and building access, but we just don’t want it to be wasteful and spill over into the sky where it doesn’t benefit anybody. In terms of the turf field, we’re really concerned because is has a strong impact on our whole observing program.
“I’m not anti-development,†Kwitter said. “The campus has grown. But we’d like our concerns taken into account when lighting is being considered. It’s not just the college. It’s everybody’s night sky. Our resource is very vulnerable.â€
Similar concerns about light pollution, as well as neighborhood opposition, helped derail plans for lighting a turf field at Middlebury College in Vermont, according to Middlebury Athletic Director Russ Reilly.
“We built the field but didn’t light it,†he said yesterday. “The reason was, we got some resistance from the local community and some campus constituencies — specifically the astronomy department.â€
He said he and other officials believed the field was more important than the lights but wanted it lighted to expand intramurals and other student recreation. He acknowledged that light pollution is an arguable issue but said he believes modern engineering can drastically restrict light spillage into the environment.
Middlebury built its field in 1998 or ’99. At Dartmouth College, which built its turf field in 1999, hours have been limited due to the concerns of neighbors, Kathy Slattery, director of sports information.
“The Sculley-Fahey field is very close to neighbors,†said Slattery. “One of the issues we faced was that proximity. We worked very closely with the town of Hanover and the neighbors to reach an arrangement that filled our needs and respected the surrounding areas.â€
The field, which cost $4.4 million, measures 86,400 square feet and seats 1,600 fans. It is used for field hockey and men’s and women’s lacrosse game, and for other sports practices, she said.
One of the Meacham Street opponents to the Weston Field lights is David Wohabe, an attorney and Williams graduate.
“This one will have a big impact,†he said. “This is really the center of town. It’s a park-like setting that would be changed for the next 100 years.â€
Wohabe, who signed the protest letter with several of his neighbors, said it was designed to dissuade the college from “further burdening the Weston complex with activities and infrastructure.â€
“The college has been very vague with us. They have not let us participate as community members,†he said. “They just haven’t involved the community in the deliberations. We don’t see that they’ve exhausted their alternatives.â€
He suggested that lower Cole field, which already has infrastructure and is buffered from the surrounding neighborhoods, would be a better choice.
Ray Warner of Meacham Street, often a critic of college policies, said he did not sign the petition because he enjoys the games and activities at Weston Field.
He is not a fan of the proposed lights, however.
“I think the lights are going to be terrible,†he said. “I think it’s really going to mess up Meacham Street. The lights are going to change the character of the street.â€
Another signer, who did not want his name used, said the college’s plan would “change a sylvan park-like setting forever with urban industrial light towers.â€
“If you have chosen to urbanize your campus with, for example, a parking garage, at least accept that and put a lighted field in the center of campus, not the center of town,†he said.
Tom Costley, also a Williams alumnus, said the college needs to be sensitive to everyone who lives nearby.
“We all want the college to flourish, but we want it to use patience, wisdom and foresight, not just rush to build under tremendous pressure from donors. The field is going to be here for an awfully long time.â€
Another resident, who also didn’t want his name used, said growth at the college is inevitable but must be carefully planned.
“These are residential neighborhoods. How is the college going to deal with them? Buy them out? Or really look at the true costs, the negative impacts, and mitigate them in a fair and reasonable way?†he asked.
Matthew Levine, a 1974 Williams graduate, said he came up with the idea of an all-weather turf field and led the fund-raising effort. Levine said his reasons were to honor the legacy of Renzi Lamb, who retired after 35 years as teacher and coach, and to use the field for intramural athletics, club sports and community youth sports.
A marketing and sales executive, Levine said the field would benefit college players, particularly in the spring, when mud often means rescheduling home games. Six of the 11 colleges in the New England Association of Small College Athletics Conference already have turf fields, he said, so installing one here would be in line with updating Williams facilities, he said.
Observers of college construction have noted that recent projects are larger, tend to create a more urban environment and have a greater effect on neighbors.
Frederick Driscoll, a 1958 Williams graduate who lives with his wife, Genevieve, on Lee Terrace, said he objects not so much to the college’s parking garage on North Street but to the metal-clad belvedere that crowns it.
“It calls attention to itself. It’s totally unnecessary, he said.
Retired Williams sociology Professor Robert Friedrichs and his wife, Pauline, are selling their house at 33 Whitman St., overlooking the large new performing arts center, to Williams. Pauline Friedrichs said the construction project was probably a deciding factor in their selling the house they had lived in since 1975 and moving to a retirement complex in New Hampshire.
“It had quite an influence on us … it was a very overwhelming change in our lives,†she said. “It’s a huge building site. The parking garage is along the west side; the new theater is on the south side of the house. — in your face is what it is.â€
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
Cassidy Flynn scattered five hits in a complete-game effort in the circle as Lenox upset top-seeded Hoosac Valley, 3-2, in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament. click for more
Brayden Durant struck out seven and walked one in a complete-game effort on the mound Saturday to pitch the Drury baseball team to a 6-0 win over Keefe Tech in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament at Joe Wolfe Field. click for more
Jason Codey struck out 13, walked two and allowed just an infield single as the Generals earned a 7-1 win over Wahconah to claim their third straight regional title. click for more
Gracelyn Wright struck out eight, and Genevieve Lagess went 3-for-5 with four runs batted in as the Hurricanes beat Monson, 17-3, to claim their first Western Mass title in four years. click for more
For the boys, Ward Bianchi helped lead the way with a win in the shot put and a second place in the javelin as the Mounties finished 16 points ahead of runner-up Pittsfield (pending the results of the pole vault, which were unavailable at 11 p.m. Friday night). click for more
