Williamstown Eyes Zoning Changes
WILLIAMSTOWN - The Selectmen reviewed proposals on Monday that would loosen zoning laws for tourist-related businesses on Route 7 and encourage residential developers to build in clusters and preserve open space.Also on the agenda was an update on a plan to expand the Spring Street parking lot. Three members of the Planning Board and Town Manager Peter Fohlin were in attendance.
In the first of two proposed zoning amendments, Planning Board Chairman Richard DeMayo presented a bylaw that would allow professional services to occupy buildings originally zoned for tourist businesses. This would mostly affect buildings along Route 7, south of the rotary. Any such expansion would necessitate a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
DeMayo pointed out that many of these structures were built as dairy barns, but now "if they're not hotels or restaurants, they're not doing well." He cited the vacant Taconic Restaurant, which has fallen into disrepair after abruptly closing more than a year ago. Financial services would now be permitted in such buildings, but not banks.
Selectmen Chairman David Rempell endorsed the bylaw as an improvement for the town. "The idea here is to take certain properties that are empty or no longer viable and make them useful."
Michael Card, director of Inspection Services, presented an additional zoning bylaw meant to encourage developers to "preserve open space, agricultural and forestry land, and other natural resources." Open Space Residential Development (OSRD) would become the preferred, though not mandatory, method of development in Williamstown.
"This is a set of regulations that will encourage development to occur in [housing] clusters with open space," Card explained. "It's a carrot out there to build houses closer together" and could be applied to both rural and general residences.
"The models that we used were the ones on the ground right now ... Hemlock Brook would be the one this looks like right now," he said.
According to the Planning Board's written proposal, OSRD would further serve to "protect scenic vistas," "encourage the preservation of historic and archaeological resources" and "allow greater flexibility and creativity in the design of residential development."
Additional steps would be taken to reduce light emissions Card said: "We've had a lot of interaction with the Williams astronomy department because of glare."
The Selectmen proposed a few clarifications, but was generally supportive of the proposal. "The town benefits overall with this plan," said Rempell.
The Planning Board will begin advertising the bylaws on Wednesday, March 12, to be followed by a public hearing on Thursday, March 27. A copy of the amendments should be up on the town Web site within a few days.
Spring Street parking
According to Fohlin, the proposed Spring Street parking lot expansion would yield 25 new parking spaces through two extensions of the current blacktop: one toward the Williams College campus in the west, and one toward the southeast.
Additionally, the lot would be redrawn to contain a separate entrance and exit, both leading toward Spring Street. This would streamline traffic through a single, horseshoed loop running through the lot. The four spaces opposite Tunnel City Coffee would be removed to improve visibility for the entering and exiting cars.
"This has nothing to do with the old American Legion building," Fohlin said, referring to the recently demolished structure just north of the lot. "That’s on a separate parcel [of land]." The land "underneath the parking lot is owned by Williams College," he continued, "but the parking lot is a municipal function."
Selectman Ronald Turbin raised some questions regarding the placement of the Farmers' Market, trash removal and the presence of unwanted vegetation near the lot, but was assured by Fohlin that "no weeds will survive this project" and what "you'll see when this is finished is a more maintenance-friendly lot" because access for snowplows and street sweepers will be improved.
The proposal now goes before the Zoning Board of Appeals on March 20, as well as being reviewed by Williams College.
The meeting ended with the Fohlin's report, which discussed, among other things, those individuals who've filed nominating papers to appear in the May 13 town election ballot. Anyone interested in running can obtain papers until March 25. No one has yet filed for the three-year term on the Williamstown Elementary School Committee, currently held by Pat MacHugh. as an improvement for the town. "The idea here is to take certain properties that are empty or no longer viable and make them useful."
