Mayor-elect James Ruberto’s transition team is sponsoring a talk by nationally renowned land use researcher and author Karl Kehde on collaboration and team building among diverse interest groups to enhance proposed land development projects.
The talk and subsequent discussion are open to the public and will be held on Friday, December 19 at 10 am at Mazzeo's Ristorante at 7 Winter Street in Pittsfield. Refreshments will be served and a small donation is requested.
An award-winning land developer, environmentalist, and planning board member, Karl Kehde is the author of Smarter Land Use, a do-it- yourself guidebook for improving relationships and enhancing proposed projects.
He has participated in more than 500 meetings among neighborhood groups, developers, and environmentalists in 48 land developments in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Pennsylvania, and the state of Washington to research the procedures he will present in his talk. “It turns out that when the primary purpose of a land development is to enhance community spirit, we get the best economic growth,†Kehde said.
Reba Evenchik, a member of Mayor-elect Ruberto’s transition team, and her husband, Bruce Evenchik, invited Kehde to bring his innovative approach to working collaboratively to the Berkshires after hearing him speak in North Carolina this year.
“I was very impressed with the way his approach brings together all the diverse elements of a community to work cooperatively,†said Evenchik. “Although his work focuses on land use issues – of which there are many here in the Berkshires, where we cherish the beauty of our environment – his innovative approach can be used in many different areas of life.â€
“Mr. Kehde’s talk is very timely considering the number of land use issues we face in Pittsfield and in the Berkshires,†Jim Ruberto said, citing the proposed Pittsfield airport expansion and river walk, the proposed waste transfer site off South Street and the Dalton gravel plant as examples. “Building up our community means building teams of people working together cooperatively, and I am willing to consider any constructive approach to accomplishing that goal.â€
Karl Kehde has personally designed, developed, and marketed three major residential real estate projects. He has built active and passive solar homes, implemented energy and wildlife conservation deed restrictions, and donated land to conservation organizations. He served 5 years on an Advisory Committee working on New Jersey's State Development Plan, and 8 years as a member of his town planning board.
He was a member of the Board of Directors of the American Clean Water Association and, as a developer, received a Special Award of Merit from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and was awarded the Distinguished Planning Citation by the American Planning Association. In 1997 he was awarded a contract from National Park Service to help resolve environmental land use disputes.
Kehde developed the "Project Integration Procedure," outlined in his book, Smarter Land Use, as way to involve all stakeholders - neighbors, developers, planning officials, and environmentalists - in a collaborative decision-making process. Funded by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and others, the book is the result of 12 years of hands-on learning and teaching.
Smarter Land Use provides all land development stakeholders with a procedure for designing and gaining approvals for land development that improves local property values, reduces traffic congestion, enhances natural and historic resources, and builds community spirit.
Kehde wrote the guidebook and invented the companion Collaborative Planning Kit so that communities can succeed with this procedure on their own with no outside assistance. The book, which includes a CD of sample forms and letters, and kit will be available for purchase at Kehde’s talk, and is also available for free in the form of downloadable PDF files at www.landuse.org .
Kehde will be in the Berkshires from Thursday through Sunday and is available for free personal consultations on community land use issues by appointment. Kehde can be reached at karl@landuse.org or 908- 625-0638.
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Dalton Day Returns This Saturday
By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The town's popular Dalton Day festival is returning this weekend after a year's hiatus.
The event will kick off this Saturday at 11 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. in the field in front of the Senior Center.
The community celebration was established in 2023 by the Cultural Council in an effort to increase resident participation at town meetings while also showcasing the area's welcoming, diverse, artistic and sporty atmosphere. In 2024, the event brought together 300 residents.
"The primary mission of Dalton Day is to foster a strong sense of community, build civic pride, and bring residents together through a shared celebration of local culture, music, and food," said Jeannie Ingram, Select Board member and cultural council chair, and Lori Venezia, executive assistant to the town manager.
The event provides an accessible and free platform for "civic education, community bonding, and supporting local businesses, artisans, makers, and culture more broadly," they said.
The festival strengthens the fabric of the town both civically and economically by connecting grassroots organizations with residents, fostering a shared sense of belonging, and providing free, family-friendly entertainment.
It also serves as an opportunity for community members to meet with local officials and a couple of state officials. State Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. Leigh Davis will be coming from Beacon Hill to speak at the event.
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