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Two More Marijuana Companies Seek Pittsfield Permits

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The owner of the former County Wide Rental building on Dalton Avenue is trying for a third time to get a marijuana business into the property.
 
James Scalise of SK Design is representing Pittsfield Investment Group again in a pitch to receive permits for a marijuana business at 531 Dalton Ave. The site was originally the first location permitted for a medical marijuana facility in 2014 but the plans fell through. In 2016, a new vendor looked at the space but that too went the same path.
 
Scalise returned to the Community Development Board on Tuesday looking for permits again because the approvals are linked to the operator and not the property. Scalise said the building plans haven't changed. It will still be a 6,000 square-foot building and parking has been coordinated with Ribco to allow for enough spaces. The screening, architecture, lighting, and shrubbery that had all been approved in the past remains unchanged. 
 
"Some work did start on the building. The building has been stripped of a lot of its exterior," Scalise said.
 
City Planner CJ Hoss said there was an oversight in advertising a public hearing for a required parking waiver and the permitting process has to be delayed. Hoss said this time there could be concern about the proximity of another marijuana retailer, Berkshire Roots, but traffic issues could be addressed by consolidating curb cuts.
 
Meanwhile, another marijuana company is looking for permits to operate in a building at 239 West St. Devin Bajardi and Mark Penna of Pure Botanicals are seeking to have a more discrete location for retail on the leased property. 
 
"It is in the same footprint but we are going to make it a little more modern," Bajardi said.
 
Particularly the company is looking to put up a new chain link fence with a green screen to provide more privacy. That will replace the current fence that has trees growing into it. He said the fence will link up to an existing 7-foot fence owned by an adjacent property owner.
 
The Community Development Board approved of the plans and believes the updates to the property will make the site look better. Pure Botanicals now needs approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals to take the next step.
 
The city has already approved a number of marijuana establishments but none have yet to open. Only Temescal Wellness has gotten the state approvals needed to open its doors. 
 
In other business, Hoss reported that an application has been submitted for the redevelopment of the White Terrace apartments. Hoss said the application is calling for 41 residential units in the three buildings but there will be some questions about parking. He expects that permit to be on the agenda next month.
 
The board also tabled a request from Lipton to expand its 183 Elm Street location to add more parking. The convenience store is looking to purchase 11 Livingston and expand its parking lot. That is expected to be taken up in March.

Tags: community development,   marijuana,   

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North Adams Regional Reopens With Ribbon-Cutting Celebration

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

BHS President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz welcomes the gathering to the celebration of the hospital's reopening 10 years to the day it closed. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The joyful celebration on Thursday at North Adams Regional Hospital was a far cry from the scene 10 years ago when protests and tears marked the facility's closing
 
Hospital officials, local leaders, medical staff, residents and elected officials gathered under a tent on the campus to mark the efforts over the past decade to restore NARH and cut the ribbon officially reopening the 136-year-old medical center. 
 
"This hospital under previous ownership closed its doors. It was a day that was full of tears, anger and fear in the Northern Berkshire community about where and how residents would be able to receive what should be a fundamental right for everyone — access to health care," said Darlene Rodowicz, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. 
 
"Today the historic opportunity to enhance the health and wellness of Northern Berkshire community is here. And we've been waiting for this moment for 10 years. It is the key to keeping in line with our strategic plan which is to increase access and support coordinated county wide system of care." 
 
Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, under the BHS umbrella, purchased the campus and affiliated systems when Northern Berkshire Healthcare declared bankruptcy and closed on March 28, 2014. NBH had been beset by falling admissions, reductions in Medicare and Medicaid payments, and investments that had gone sour leaving it more than $30 million in debt. 
 
BMC was able to reopen the ER as an emergency satellite facility and slowly restored and enhanced medical services including outpatient surgery, imaging, dialysis, pharmacy and physician services. 
 
But it would take a slight tweak in the U.S. Health and Human Services' regulations — thank to U.S. Rep. Richie Neal — to bring back inpatient beds and resurrect North Adams Regional Hospital 
 
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