Williamstown Planners Look For Ways To Save Farms

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
01:59PM / Wednesday, October 19, 2011Print Story | Email Story

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Planning Board is looking for ways to save local farms by allowing new usages to increase revenues.

Last Tuesday, Topher Sabot of Cricket Creek Farm proposed changing the zoning bylaws to allow the farm to host weddings, concerts and events like yoga classes that are not currently allowed on farms.

"In terms of events, we are limited to agricultural-related ones," Sabot said on Thursday. "It would be a nice supplement."

While agriculture will remain the farm's focus, a supplement income would be "critical" to the farm's survival, Sabot said. The proposed changes are still in the works but Sabot said he hopes to have a full proposal developed in time for the next town meeting, where voters would have to approve the changes.

"Our hope is, if there can be a change, it can be for next summer," Sabot said. "The proposal is still a work in progress."

Tuesday's meeting with the Planning Board was the start of what Sabor said will be an ongoing conversation toward making those changes. The board was in favor of working out the language and details of the move. The board will still have to flesh out definitions but also ways to regulate noise, times, numbers of people and vehicles.

"I think the move is to allow things that will help farms survive. I'm going to work hard to make sure it can happen," Ann McCallum, board member, said.

At Cricket Creek, Sabot said he explored asking for the changes years ago and is now pushing for them. The farm constantly gets requests for weddings, he said, and hosting those would be the main aspect of the proposal. Small-scale community concerts and "creative arts" events could be added to give flexibility for farms.

"One of the missions of the farm is to support the community. This is another way to be a community resource," Sabot said. "We have no desire to be full-time event planners."

The board could consider limiting the number of events or the scale of the events but that is still being worked out.

"Farming can take on a new look," Chris Winters, Planning Board member, said. "If we like farms, we like all the things that go with farms."

But allowing events is not the only move that the board is looking to make to save farms. The board is also considering changing the bylaws to allow for second dwelling units on lots in some of the rural districts. That move could help save farms by allowing the owners to transform a barn or garage into rental space.

That proposal, being headed by McCallum, has been in the works since last year and aims not only to help farms but also to fill business areas as well. Residents are not allowed to build a second dwelling on the same piece of land but bylaw changes could pave the way for townhouses to be allowed in places like Water Street.

Sabot hopes to continue his discussions with an updated proposal at the next Planning Board meeting.

Tags: agriculture,

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Your Comments

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I would definitely support this. I don't even see any drawbacks, unless neighbors object to the noise level of concerts (yet here in North Adams, the whole TOWN is subject to the concerts played here... not that I'm complaining, personally). Anything that helps our beautiful local farms be more integrated into our community helps us all.
from: EK	on: 10-19-2011 02:53PM I Agree (11) - I Disagree (0)

Maybe put a playground set at the farm - oh no, too ghastly for South Williamstown! Sigh.
from: maybe	on: 10-20-2011 12:03PM I Agree (2) - I Disagree (0)

This is a total no-brainer. They shouldn't be setting up nuclear missile silos or Al Qaeda training camps, but I can't complain about anything else. It's absurd that a wedding is not allowed on a farm at current! Zoning laws were probably better when we had no EPA and factories spewed soot and smoke all over their neighbors, but things like this need to be revised for the modern era. Here we have the justification for helping farms. Don't see why I might need to drive 5 miles to get a can of Coca-Cola either (segregation of land uses won't allow efficient neighborhoods to develop.. scratch that... reappear).
from: Pittsfield Expat	on: 10-21-2011 02:12AM I Agree (1) - I Disagree (0)

without farms we do not have food. families that have had farming in their lives for generations are giving up because they can no longer survive just growing food or raising cows. it's time to let our family farms get the ability to diversify so farmers can live off their land again. if they have to spend 40 hours a week (or more) at a regular job it is awful hard to manage a working farm as well. please support this effort to help local farmers continue to have a "right to farm" and cary on the traditions. if you aren't from a farming family this might not make sense to you, but to those of us who have farming in our blood, it's important. big business will grow, but the small farmer will supply you with fresher produce and better prices!
from: blackbird	on: 10-22-2011 06:53PM I Agree (5) - I Disagree (0)

St. Stan's Students Spread Holiday Cheer at Williamstown Commons

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
12:50PM / Sunday, December 21, 2025

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Students from St. Stanislaus Kostka School in Adams brought the holiday spirit to Williamstown Commons on Thursday, delivering handmade Christmas cards and leading residents in a community caroling session.

"It honestly means the world to us because it means the world to them," said nursing home Administrator Alex Fox on Thursday morning. "This made their days. This could have even made their weeks. It could have made their Christmas, seeing the children and interacting with the community."

Teacher Kate Mendonca said this is the first year her class has visited the facility, noting that the initiative was driven entirely by the students.

"This came from the kids. They said they wanted to create something and give back," Mendonca said. "We want our students involved in the community instead of just reading from a religion book."

Preparation for the event began in early December, with students crafting bells to accompany their singing. The handmade cards were completed last week.

"It's important for them to know that it's not just about them during Christmas," Mendonca said. "It's about everyone, for sure. I hope that they know they really helped a lot of people today and hopefully it brought joy to the residents here."

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