WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen unanimously voted not to recommend warrant articles that would allow farms to have music or celebrations on their grounds.
Board members did, however, move to recommend a less intrusive request to hold physical or creative classes in music, dance, yoga or similar activities. No one spoke in favor of the bylaws.
The zoning law amendments had been brought forward by Cricket Creek Farm, which has been hoping to boost its revenues by hosting weddings and large celebrations. The issue has run into opposition from neighbors in South Williamstown and concerns from the Planning and Zoning boards. The Planning Board voted on March 1 to recommend the bylaws after a compromise was reached over language.
"I want to find other ways to support farms ... This is not smart," said Selectman Tom Costley. "It's not what a farm was intended to do. I understand farms need to be creative but if I moved there, it's not what I would have expected."
The bylaw change would allow local farms, as defined in the town's Right to Farm bylaw, to host events with amplified music between the hours of 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. The Selectmen worried about the effects of traffic and noise on the rural areas and dirt roads.
"I'm concerned about the impact on a particular area of town," said Selectman David Rempell. "Weddings are weddings — they're huge celebrations."
Selectwoman Jane Allen had issues with a bylaw that would leave complaints and compliance for multiple events in the hands of the ZBA.
Moderator Mark Gold, speaking as a resident of South Williamstown, said the town could be setting a precedent in changing bylaws for a specific industry so it could engage in activities outside of its main business.
"This has been boxed in a 'save the farms' package ... no one is saying this is good for the town and no one is saying this is good for the neighborhood," he said. "This is about revenue for the farms."
He asked what would happen if a group of physicians came and asked for a bylaw change to aid their business. "The cost, frankly, is way to high for the people who live there and sets a dangerous precedent."
(Gold said he would step down as moderator during the time the three articles are on the floor; former Moderator Stan Parese will take over.)
The selectmen voted 5-0 not to recommend the bylaw to town meeting; after a short debate they also felt they couldn't recommend a complementary article that would have allowed small concerts (40 people or less) until 9:30 p.m. because it didn't define if the music was acoustic or amplified.
The board failed to give full support for long-debated bylaw to allow second dwelling units in certain areas, voting 4-1 to recommend it. The bylaw, formulated by the Planning Board, would allow property owners to create so-called "mother-in-law" apartments within single-family homes, by adding on or building a detached structure.
Allen was the lone vote against recommendation, citing concerns over drainage, setbacks and permitting, some of which had been raised by the Zoning Board.
"It's hard because I know the affordable housing supports this," she said. "I'm all for more affordable housing in Williamstown but I'm not sure this article has been vetted well enough. ... I think there are unintended consequences."
The annual town meeting set for Tuesday, May 15, at 7 p.m. at the elementary school.
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.
A few weddings a year at a farm might irrevocably change the way of life that never really existed until rich people bought nearby farm land and pretended they were preserving the past by not farming it.
The selectmen are wrong and hopefully the town will ignore their kowtow to the folks who oppose everything that makes them feel less "rural."
Regardless of the ultimate outcome, I am extremely concerned that Mr. Gold feels he can appoint whomever he chooses to act as Town Moderator when he steps aside for personal reasons. As a lawyer shouldn't he know that a temporary moderator is the town clerk or picked at town meeting and that he can't simply appoint his law partner?
How nice that the "Anti's" who have their property overlooking some of the most beautiful farmland in Williamstown got the Selectmen on their side. I don't suppose any of them have a clue how much it costs to keep the fields cleared and grounds maintained. Cost of fuel is through the roof, never mind labor and insurance. Lucky them, they don't have to foot that bill, yet they continue to enjoy their views at the farmers'expense.
Boxing this issue in the context of saving farms and ruining Williamstown? Maybe the farmers will have to sell their non-APR land and build big ugly houses.
I am mindful of the issue Concerned Citizen has raised. I have not appointed Stan Parese, nor do I have the authority to do so. What I said at the meeting was that Stan Parese (the Moderator for the previous 12 years) had agreed to serve for these three articles and that Sherwood Guernsey, who is the petitioner for the articles, had consented to Stan Parese serving in that capacity. A motion will be made at Town Meeting and those present will vote on a Moderator for those articles. I was just letting the Board know that I was going to recuse myself because I had taken a public position on the articles and that Stan Parese was willing to step in and Sherwood Guernsey had given his approval. Unfortunately, there was insufficient room in the article to include these important facts.
So I guess Mr Guernsey and Mr Gold get pick the moderator? I guess that's better than Mr. Gold doing it alone. But that still isn't the way the law says it's done.
We should have an ordinance against those dadgum automobiles and aeroplanes, because they sure disturb our country lifestyle, too. Call the constabulary! Rally the Ladies Auxiliary and the Fire Brigade! (Just don't let the Ladies get any fancy notions about them getting voting rights in our living history museum of life in the 1890's)
Weddings, celebrations and concerts are good for the town. People will stay at the local motels, hotels, and B&B's which brings in tax revenue. If an event is at a local farm it is likely that their food will be from that farm and many others, made by a local caterer and photographed by a local photographer. If a relative needs a dress at the last minute in Williamstown, their only options are places like Ruby Sparks and The Browns.
This is what really living local looks like!
