| TOP STORIES AROUND THE COUNTY |
North Adams Planners Nix Expansion of Car SalesBy Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
04:54PM / Tuesday, January 13, 2009
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Two car dealers' requests to increase the number of vehicles on their lots were rejected by an annoyed Planning Board on Monday night.
Car lots have been a particular thorn in the city's side for years because of a pattern of violations, said board members.
"We have been through this time and time and time again," said board Chairman Michael Leary. "Car dealers in this city come in here and make promise after promise after promise saying they're going to have X number of cars and then there's five times the number of cars they're permitted."
And in both cases before the board Monday, the owners were not in compliance to begin with, he said.
William Bump of West End Auto Sales objected, saying he was trying to meet conditons. Bump had asked to increase the number of vehicles on his lot to 36, more than double what the board had authorized.
But Building Inspector William Meranti said Bump had not completed certain conditions put on the property by the board, including installing a new sign, repairing certain elements of the old sign and taking down a car rental sign.
Bump was angry that Meranti hadn't stopped to talk to him during his swing through the city to review sites on Monday's agenda. "You could have stopped and talked to me," he said. "Isn't that just common sense?"
"Isn't common sense for you to be in compliance with your permit?" responded Leary.
Meranti and Jay Green, the city's administrative officer, urged Bump to get in touch with them if ran into any troubles.
"I'm trying to run a business here, a business that helps support this community," said Bump. He assured the board that the new sign was to be delivered soon.
Leary told Bump he could not consider changing the conditions on the business when he wasn't in compliance with conditions that been set just a month ago.
Meranti told Bump that if he was in compliance when he came back before the board, the board would "act reasonably" with him.
The same went for Mohawk Auto Sales, which had submitted a letter to the board. No one was in attendance to represent the car lot; the letter was submitted by Alan Horbal.
There was confusion over who was operating three businesses at the the Curran Highway site: a used-car lot, a garage and a towing service.
The individual running the auto repair business was apparently no longer there, which led to the question of whether the garage was still in operation. The permits for the towing and sales were in another name. Horbal's name was not on any of the permits.
"After years of being out of compliance, he would like this board to legitimize his noncompliance," said Leary. "We have said it again and again — if you are not in compliance with existing permits, don't ask us to change them."
Both communications were filed for further review. A letter was to be sent to Horbal to inform he was in noncompliance.
In other business, the board:
Approved the relocation of and sign for Pooches, a dog-grooming salon, to 145 Eagle St. The permit had been held up at last month's meeting because of concerns over traffic conditions because of a proposed church in the same building. Green said the church was no longer going to happen.
A special permit for Mark and Renee Lapier to operate a restaurant in the former J.T. Bus Lines Co. office on Massachusetts Avenue with the condition they continue to work with the office of community development on landscaping, parking, hours of operation and signage issues. The eatery is expected to open in April, serving breakfast and lunch.
The relocation of Janice L. Esoldi's sweets shop to 85 Main St. Esoldi has been operating the candy shop in Moulton's General Store on Main Street.
A sign change for Northern Berkshire Family Practice. Only the name was changed.
The board also referred to the appropriate licensing commissions changes proposed for Taylor's Fine Dining. The restaurant proposes to move the its bar to another location in the current building on Holden Street and to name it Taylor Two.
|
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. Comments are closed for this article. If you would like to contribute information on this article, e-mail us at info@iBerkshires.com |
In reference to the West End Auto sales situation.
I don't know where this dealer is located. The only car dealer that I know of in the West end is Carbones. Seems like a lot of fuss over nothing. | | from: Jim | on: 01-14-2009 12:00AM
I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0) |
|
| The used car dealer is across the street from West's liquor store, and the board is right on this one. Seems like the majority of used car dealers think it's okay to just store junk cars all over their property and let them sit there for years. This guy hasn't done that, yet. | | from: gur | on: 01-15-2009 12:00AM
I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0) |
|
|
Advertise on iBerkshires.com
|
