Tim Duncan addresses the ZBA about his request to establish an art studio and gallery at his Cold Spring Road (Route 7) residence.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday granted a special permit for a Cold Spring Road resident to operate an art studio and gallery at their residence.
The board did not, however, take up a more contentious issue: the application for a special permit to grow marijuana on a Blair Road property.
Only four members of the board could attend Thursday's monthly meeting. That gave the body a quorum, but it also meant that a successful petition would have needed a unanimous decision from the ZBA members present.
Before the meeting, Chairman Andrew Hoar explained that condition to both applicants and offered them the option to request a continuance. Donald Dubendorf, the attorney for marijuana producer Massflora LLC, sought such a delay to the board's March meeting.
Tim Duncan and Rebecca Johnston went ahead with the request for permission to establish a studio at 534 Cold Spring Road.
The longtime artists hope to conduct classes a few days a week at the space and have a small gallery to sell their works.
Duncan, who addressed the board, said he does not plan a "store," per se. More likely the works will be displayed in a self-serve setting where customers can leave their money in exchange for the artwork; he has no intention to hire staff, Duncan said, and he did not ask permission for external signage.
He did mention that in addition to a few weekly classes, there is a chance that he may teach a class in Williams College's winter study session each January, and the special permit approved by the board allows for that possibility.
No one addressed Thursday's hearing for or against Duncan and Johnston's request, and the board received no correspondence regarding the Cold Spring Road project.
The same could not be said for Massflora's application.
In a preview of what to expect at the board's March 21 meeting, the ZBA has received as of Thursday afternoon eight letters against the proposed pot plantation.
The majority of the letter-writers identified themselves as residents near the parcel in question.
One letter came from Philip McKnight, who raised the same issue to the ZBA that he made to his colleagues on the Conservation Commission, which last week gave its go-ahead to Massflora despite McKnight's concerns.
Stressing that he was writing as a concerned citizen and not in his capacity as a member of the commission, McKnight suggested that the ZBA follow the path he recommended to the Con Comm and delay action on the Massflora application until it receives guidance from town counsel about potential legal liability for facilitating a business flouting federal law.
Most of the letters objecting to the application concerned the effect on quality of life and property values in the Blair Road neighborhood if Massflora is allowed to build the 7,000 square foot processing center and establish the 5-acre outdoor plantation it proposes.
"The proposed project is not an agricultural use appropriate in a rural residential area," one letter reads. "Rather, it's a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility more appropriate in an industrial area.
"The adverse effects for the neighboring vicinity and for the Town far outweigh any potential benefits to the Town."
The ZBA tentatively scheduled a site visit to the Blair Road property for the morning of March 9. Hoar said the site visit, when it is scheduled, will be open to the public and will be warned in advance on the town's website.
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Williamstown Fire Committee Talks Station Project Cuts, Truck Replacement
By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Prudential Committee on Wednesday signed off on more than $1 million in cost cutting measures for the planned Main Street fire station.
Some of the "value engineering" changes are cosmetic, while at least one pushes off a planned expense into the future.
The committee, which oversees the Fire District, also made plans to hold meetings over the next two Wednesdays to finalize its fiscal year 2025 budget request and other warrant articles for the May 28 annual district meeting. One of those warrant articles could include a request for a new mini rescue truck.
The value engineering changes to the building project originated with the district's Building Committee, which asked the Prudential Committee to review and sign off.
In all, the cuts approved on Wednesday are estimated to trim $1.135 million off the project's price tag.
The biggest ticket items included $250,000 to simplify the exterior masonry, $200,000 to eliminate a side yard shed, $150,000 to switch from a metal roof to asphalt shingles and $75,000 to "white box" certain areas on the second floor of the planned building.
The white boxing means the interior spaces will be built but not finished. So instead of dividing a large space into six bunk rooms and installing two restrooms on the second floor, that space will be left empty and unframed for now.
The Charter Review Committee on Wednesday voted unanimously to endorse an amended version of the compliance provision it drafted to be added to the Town Charter. click for more
Developer David Traggorth asked the trustees to make the contribution from its coffers to help unlock an additional $5.4 million in state funds for the planned 54-unit apartment building at the south end of the Cable Mills site.
click for more
The donors, who wish to remain anonymous, say the gift reflects their desire to not only support Williams but also President Maud S. Mandel's strategic vision and plan for the college.
click for more
Neighbors of a proposed subdivision off Summer Street last week asked the Planning Board to take a critical look at the project, which the residents say is out of scale to the neighborhood. click for more