Clarksburg Golf Course Plans Revamped
 James Basiliere explains the changes in his plans for the former North Adams Country Club to Planning Board Chairman David Sherman and the Selectmen. |
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The owner of the former North Adams Country Club has abandoned plans for an 18-hole golf course.
James Basiliere told the Selectmen on Monday night that the recent sale of Waubeeka Golf Links "for next to nothing" prompted him to switch gears.
"I decided I needed to do something a little bit different to get people in here," he said.
Instead, he's moving forward with a Par 3 course and a nine-hole course on the property with intention of opening the Par 3 by next June.
Basiliere attended Monday's meeting at the request of the Board of Selectmen, who have been concerned over the lack of a detailed site plan while excavation has been ongoing for nearly a year.
Basiliere said he's been working within the 5-acre area as permitted last year, although Planning Board Chairman David Sherman estimated that he had exceeded that area.
"I'm OK with the site but it's too open and that raised questions," he said.
Sherman said a lot of the questions that would be answered with the site plan would be grading, access, parking and the clubhouse.
"Those are the questions that are going to be asked," he said.
Basiliere said he expected to have a detailed plan in 30 to 45 days, depending on the schedule of his engineer, John Dupras of Trinity Engineering.
"The site plan that John will produce will have the Par 3 and it will have the clubhouse," he said. "There will be a new driveway and the back of the [clubhouse] building will be taken down."
Selectman William Schrade Jr. said he supported the project but didn't want flooding or for Basiliere to redo what he'd done.
"Once you build something, I don't want you digging again," he said.
Basiliere said he was experienced with runoff issues and didn't have a problem with making changes if necessary.
"I just want to make the two growing seasons and be open ... that's my goal," he said.
The Par 3 would fit into the current course footprint and he would move ahead with the reclamation of excavated areas.
"I don't have to go into any sensitive areas," he said, although were two wetlands areas that could be nominally impacted that he would discuss with the Conservation Commission. "I wouldn't go outside [the 5 acres] until I have the whole site plan."
The board asked him to return on Aug. 20 with a site plan. Basiliere said the clubhouse portion may not be fully completed at that point.
"I just don't want to be at a point where we're chasing the site plan," said Schrade.
Basiliere agreed. "My end is getting the site plan done," he said.
The board also met briefly with the town accountant and treasurer/tax collector on end-of-year transfers. The board will meet with the Finance Committee at 6 p.m. on Tuesday to authorize the transfers.
Tags: excavation, golf course, Planning Board, site plan review,
