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Clarksburg Planners OK Golf Course Solar Array, Clubhouse

Jeffrey Galarneau, a project engineer with VHB, reviews the plans for the solar array and clubhouse at Thursday's Planning Board meeting.

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The Planning Board on Thursday gave final approval to a solar array and clubhouse renovations at the former North Adams Country Club.

The two elements comprise the first phase of the renovations at what is now the Boulder Creek Golf Club; the second phase, the development of the course itself, will come before the board later. The hearing was held at the Senior Center with a few residents in attendance.

The 1.25 megawatt solar array will have more than 4,000 panels over 4 acres and generate enough energy to power about 250 homes. The expectation is that the array will be hooked into National Grid this fall.

Nils Behn, CEO of Aegis Renewable Energy, the array developer and operator, said the array would support the golf course operations and "strengthen the diversity of that entire endeavor."

The revenue from the alternative energy source is a critical factor in making the golf course sustainable, said owner Todd Driscoll, which prompted the decision to do the array and clubhouse together in the first phase.

"The reality is the whole plan has to work together," he said. "We go solar, we go bigger, without it we can't survive ... It would be a shame to see it not survive ...
 
"You can't make any money on the golf course."

The golf course will be as green as possible — the mowers and carts will be electric, detention ponds will be used to conserve water for irrigation. "The whole golf course idea is it's a green golf course," Driscoll explained.

Driscoll bought out partner James Basiliere in early June, taking over the mortgage obligations for the property. Basiliere had purchased the 100-year-old bankrupt country club on River Road four years ago with the plans to expand the nine-hole course to 18 and to renovate the clubhouse and banquet facilities.

Those plans did not pan out and Driscoll came on as a partner last year and the project was scaled back to a Par 3 and a restoration of the original, much smaller clubhouse. The solar project was added on earlier this year to diversify revenue sources.

"It's been added onto four times and it's quite a mess on the inside," Driscoll said. "What we proposed to do is peel it back and shrink it to the original clubhouse."

The gravel excavation permit for the property has expired and the Planning Board determined to keep material removal with the site plan permit since the amount being taken out at this point is minimal. The conditions on hours and trucking were kept the same.

Driscoll said another well was found behind the clubhouse with a new pump in it, enough to feed the clubhouse and irrigate half the course. He plans to apply to tie into the North Adams sewer line rather than deal with the old septic system.

A structured tax agreement on the array will be worked out with the town.

"There is certainly the tax piece of this, but that added strength it brings to the community is an intangible to the town," said Behn.

Driscoll said the golf course, array and renewal of the alcohol license will be a "pretty good deal" for the town.

"We want the golf course to be one of the nicest practice facilities ... it will be a nice little gem for the town."

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.