The lights came on at Weston Field for the first time on Thursday — college officials promise they won't be this bright the next time.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday gave its blessing to Williams College's plan to phase in use of its soon to be completed Weston Field renovation.
Although the athletic fields are on track to receive a certificate of occupancy on Sept. 5, college officials have asked the town to issue a temporary CO for one of the two fields, the Lamb Field used by the school's field hockey and lacrosse teams.
The athletic department wants to allow the field hockey team to begin practicing on its field starting Aug. 29.
"Right now we're running into trouble scheduling [practice] time at MCLA or in the bubble in Hoosick Falls [N.Y.]," said Jason Moran, a project manager for the college's Facilities Office. "The first home game is Sept. 6."
Town Building Commissioner Michael Card ultimately will have the responsibility for issuing the temporary CO, but he asked the ZBA for guidance since the phased use is a deviation from the original permit issued for the new Weston Field.
The board's questions centered on how the college is going to keep student-athletes safe as they practice on the field adjacent to an active construction site.
Moran assured the ZBA that the construction project is entering its final phases.
"Really, what we're doing is work on the surfaces," he said. "We're pouring the rest of the fire lane, putting down sod."
Moran said all the major connections like water, sewer and power are complete for the team support building that stands between the field hockey and football fields.
"There won't be huge open trenches because all that work has been completed already," Moran said.
The college has a chain-link fence separating the field hockey field from the unfinished areas and the team support building will be locked with keys available only to the contractors, Moran said. The team will have access to nearby portable toilets during their practices.
The ZBA's newest member, Jack Nogueira, asked that in addition to those steps, the college be required to keep a campus security officer on the site during practices to ensure the safety of student-athletes and provide a communications link in case any issues arise. Moran and college attorney readily accepted the condition.
Card attended Thursday's meeting and said that with the ZBA's approval and last week's approval of the Conservation Commission he is prepared to consider the request for the temporary CO.
After Thursday's meeting, at Moran's request, several members of the board traveled to Weston Field to observe the first test of the new lighting on the football field and Lamb Field.
Although the college has no plans to play night football games on Weston Field, it does plan to move evening football practices from Cole Field to the artificial turf varsity field. And in addition to practices, it will continue to play a limited number of field hockey and lacrosse games under the lights, as it has done at Lamb Field in the past.
Moran explained to the ZBA that Thursday night was the first time the new lights were turned on, and they were burning at the brightest of three settings; football practice will require the lowest setting, Moran said. In addition, the lights will be adjusted by manufacturer Musco Sports Lighting next week, he said.
That information was welcomed by the members of the board, who noted that the football field lights fully illuminated houses across Meacham Street from the athletic field.
In other business on Thursday night, the ZBA approved modifications to the site plan for the college's Stetson-Sawyer Library project.
Again, Card brought the changes to the board's attention for guidance as the school moves toward acquisition of a certificate of occupancy in time for the new library's opening in the fall.
The changes involve changes in sidewalks to better take advantage of topography and the natural flow of foot traffic around the building, vegetation changes resulting from the death of a deciduous tree that expired in the 10 years since the planning for the project began and an alteration to storm water drainage at the site.
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Williamstown Fire Committee Talks Station Project Cuts, Truck Replacement
By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Prudential Committee on Wednesday signed off on more than $1 million in cost cutting measures for the planned Main Street fire station.
Some of the "value engineering" changes are cosmetic, while at least one pushes off a planned expense into the future.
The committee, which oversees the Fire District, also made plans to hold meetings over the next two Wednesdays to finalize its fiscal year 2025 budget request and other warrant articles for the May 28 annual district meeting. One of those warrant articles could include a request for a new mini rescue truck.
The value engineering changes to the building project originated with the district's Building Committee, which asked the Prudential Committee to review and sign off.
In all, the cuts approved on Wednesday are estimated to trim $1.135 million off the project's price tag.
The biggest ticket items included $250,000 to simplify the exterior masonry, $200,000 to eliminate a side yard shed, $150,000 to switch from a metal roof to asphalt shingles and $75,000 to "white box" certain areas on the second floor of the planned building.
The white boxing means the interior spaces will be built but not finished. So instead of dividing a large space into six bunk rooms and installing two restrooms on the second floor, that space will be left empty and unframed for now.
The Charter Review Committee on Wednesday voted unanimously to endorse an amended version of the compliance provision it drafted to be added to the Town Charter. click for more
Developer David Traggorth asked the trustees to make the contribution from its coffers to help unlock an additional $5.4 million in state funds for the planned 54-unit apartment building at the south end of the Cable Mills site.
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The donors, who wish to remain anonymous, say the gift reflects their desire to not only support Williams but also President Maud S. Mandel's strategic vision and plan for the college.
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Neighbors of a proposed subdivision off Summer Street last week asked the Planning Board to take a critical look at the project, which the residents say is out of scale to the neighborhood. click for more