Pittsfield Board Looking To Strengthen Billboard Regulations

The Community Development Board approved the petition on Tuesday.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Community Development Board is petitioning the City Council to strengthen billboard regulations.

The board voted Tuesday to ask the council to take over the permitting authority, make proposals be by special permit, and implement specific size and setback requirements.

"We're looking at distance, size and how they relate to the traffic situation," said Chairwoman Sheila Irving.

The move comes in the wake of a proposed electronic billboard that is being fought by residents fearful of it causing more pedestrian and vehicle accidents.

Currently billboards are allowed through a site plan review process. That process allows the City Council and the Community Development Board to set conditions related to specific criteria. It does not allow the board to use as much discretion as the special permit process.

"There has been concerns and question about what the board's authority is in permitting billboards," City Planner C.J. Hoss said.

The Community Development Board now wants to give the City Council more options about conditions and denial reasons for a proposed project as well as give it the ultimate authority. The petition would clear up which board truly makes the final decision as well as give that board — the City Council in this case — additional authority.

The board says the signs should be no larger than 25-by-12 feet and be set back 500 feet from an intersection or crosswalk. The signs must also conform with the zoning setbacks required in the area.

The change will only affect new proposals and those existing billboards proposed for significant changes. It will also cover off-premises signs.

The petition comes on the heels of the board tabling a proposal for an electronic billboard at the East and Elm intersection. Residents and Ward 3 City Councilor Nicholas Caccamo opposed the sign, citing foot traffic from the nearby school and a busy roadway.

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.