 Williamstown Planning Board to Hold Tuesday Hearing on Bylaw AmendmentsOn Tuesday at Town Hall, the board will hold the public hearing mandated under state law to present all three proposals to voters for comment and possible revision in advance of their inclusion on the town meeting warrant.  North Adams to Draft Short Term Rental RegulationsThe Community Development Committee held a public information session with the Community Development Office and Berkshire Regional Planning Commission on Wednesday to go over some possible elements of a policy to regulate online rentals like AirBnB.  Adams Updating 50-Year-Old Zoning MapsThe Planning Board got an update at a Monday workshop on the proposed zoning boundaries and how an information session on the new zoning went last week.  Pittsfield Planners Say No To Eliminating Pot Growth In Residential ZonesThe board reached the compromise amendment Tuesday that would allow outdoor marijuana cultivation in residential districts as long as they are 500 feet away from homes.  Pittsfield Panel Continues Marijuana Zoning Restriction DecisionThe Community Development Board continued a hearing giving it more time to consider a zoning amendment that would essentially eliminate outdoor marijuana cultivation in residential neighborhoods.  Williamstown Planning Board Weighing New Pot BylawThe Planning Board last week heard from several residents who want it to prohibit outdoor production of marijuana in the language of an updated bylaw the board intends to send to May's annual town meeting.  Pittsfield Community Development Sees Tyler Zoning AmendmentThe board heard a presentation from City Planner CJ Hoss on Tuesday night and signed off on some changes that would modernize zoning in that area and create more flexibility.  Letter: Problematic Proposed Lenox Short-Term Rental BylawA town can regulate the number of days a short-term rental may be utilized under the newly passed statute: but this additional restriction based on who owns the premises is a regulation of ownership and not use.  Adams, Economic Officials Explain 40R Housing BylawBut Tuesday's more than two-hour meeting explaining step by step the statute, the definitions, and how a Smart Growth Overlay District would work seemed to tamp down some of the controversy.  Adams Holding Informal Information Session on 40R Smart GrowthResidents wishing to learn more about the town's consideration of a Smart Growth Overlay District are invited to a public information session on Tuesday, Sept. 17.  North Adams Takes Next Step in Modernizing ZoningThe effort to bring the city's zoning up to date has been "very slow and very tedious," beginning several years ago with cleaning up language and sections in the ordinances and moving on to the latest update of aligning zones with property boundaries.  Williamstown Planning Board to Look at Bylaws for Agriculture, LightingThe Planning Board has begun the process of studying bylaw changes that potentially could make farms more financially viable in the town.  Williamstown Planners Decline to Back Dwelling Bylaw AmendmentWhen the chair opened the meeting to comments from the floor, the discussion turned to the detached accessory dwelling unit bylaw the board developed throughout the 2018-19 meeting cycle.  Williamstown Select Board Makes Advisory Votes on Town Meeting ArticlesThe board unanimously voted in favor of all the town and school spending articles, which have been reviewed and approved by the town's Finance Committee throughout the winter and spring.  Pittsfield Seeks to Revamp Downtown ZoningThe Department of Community Development is hoping to make it easier for businesses to redevelop downtown. The department is closing in on new zoning for the downtown district that will open up the possibilities for businesses to seek permits by right. The adoption of form-based zoning would be a switch from dictating uses to focusing on what any type of redevelopment would look like.  Pittsfield Council Ordains New Solar RegulationsThe City Council unanimously backed an effort to reduce the number of commercial solar arrays being installed in residential neighborhoods. The Zoning Board of Appeals petitioned the council to adopt new rules guiding where solar arrays can be installed. The new ordinance breaks photovoltaic arrays into three sizes and guides the medium and large scale ones to commercial and industrial land.  Pittsfield Revamping Solar Regulations to Limit Residential ImpactsThe ordinance breaks solar proposals into three sizes: small, medium, and large. The medium and large-scale arrays cannot be installed in residential zones. It also sets criteria for commonly cited issues such as decommissioning and maintenance and setback requirements.  Old Issues Raised Anew at Williamstown Planning Board ForumAnd most of the public comments in the more than two-hour session at Williamstown Elementary School concerned issues with which the board has been grappling for months.  Williamstown Planning Board Plans Wednesday Info Session on Bylaw ProposalsAfter months of debate and public input at its regular monthly meetings, the panel has crafted two proposals that allow more flexibility to homeowners who want to put a second or third dwelling unit on a residential lot.  Adams to Review, Revamp Outdated ZoningThe board must vote to start the process but the actual review will be kicked to the Zoning and Planning boards.  North Adams Council Approves Stipends for Retirement BoardThe councilors had at first been positive toward the idea but when they felt some of the questions as to how the stipends would affect the city budget weren't being fully answered, they balked and sent the matter to the Finance Committee, which met two weeks ago. The committee returned a recommendation on Tuesday night to approve it.  Williamstown Planning Board Grapples With Accessory Dwelling Unit IssueIn the spring, faced with intense opposition from a vocal group of residents, the board abandoned a proposal to implement changes that would have eased zoning restrictions and created more flexibility in residential zones.  Old Debates Rehashed as Williamstown Planners Try to Focus on FutureThe Planning Board on Tuesday held its second meeting since May's town election and the town meeting at which the prior board had hoped to bring an ambitious proposal to revamp the town's zoning bylaws before voters. |
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