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Community Development Board Denies Marijuana Dispensary Extra Parking

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A proposed Merril Road marijuana dispensary was denied a parking expansion by the Community Development Board.
 
The board last week denied a request by Slang LLC, doing business as the Bloom Brothers, to amend a special permit for its proposed marijuana dispensary at 392-400 Merril Road / 2 Larch St. that would allow it to construct additional parking adjacent to Larch Street. 
 
Bloom Brother principle Nathan Girard said they originally planned to only have parking on an upper lot, meeting the city's requirements, but felt because parking abundancy is generally an issue at dispensaries there would ultimately be a parking shortage.
 
"We are trying to be proactive with our approach and we just saw that there was going to be a shortage of parking no matter what we did," he said. "So we reached out to our architect to try to find a space that we could do it."
 
He said they looked to add seven parking spots and plan to make improvements to the unapproved city street that is pitted with potholes and unsatisfactory driving conditions. He said they technically own part of the street.
 
Girard said they reached out to the city's engineering department, building commissioner, and the permitting coordinator and submitted some new plans. He said because the change was so minor the building inspector signed off on it and they blocked off the area and prepared for construction.
 
This was found to be a mistake and after some changeover in the building inspector department, he was told to stop work and to receive the proper approvals. 
 
"We had the machinery out we thought we had the approval ... but we essentially stopped dead in our tracks," he said. "It is at a level state but we have not yet blacktopped it."
 
Chairwoman Sheila Irvin said Girard did not follow the correct process and any change in a marijuana establishment's site plan is not considered minor 
 
"I am not happy with the way this has been done and you have not gone through the process that we go through," she said. "We have expressed concern over the traffic circulation and the effect that this will have on that."
 
This was the board's main concern and board member Floriana Fitzgerald said she did not think the additional parking would improve safety conditions in an already questionable roadway.
 
"I have concerns because it is too close to the gas station to close to Merrill Road. It is like a speedway at times and I don't think it is a very safe situation," she said. "I don't like how fast cars drive through there all of the time."
 
Girard said he did have a chain of emails from city officials providing him with approval and was disappointed that a mistake was made. He asked to appeal to a full board or perhaps seek out a compromise.
 
"We were trying to be proactive and we are just trying to comply, that is number one," he said. "We went above and beyond what the standards are." 
 
But the commission still did not feel comfortable with the parking and Irvin said she did not want to create a dangerous situation.
 
"The approval was a mistake. It was a mistake on the impact that it had and it was a mistake with who was making the decision," she said. "But we don't want to compound that mistake by putting something into place that will be dangerous forever."
 
The board felt the Bloom Brothers had sufficient parking and asked that the site be restored. They also noted two mature trees on Larch Street that if found damaged by construction, they wanted to be replaced.
 
The board added that if parking really is an issue at the location in the future they can address it at a later time.
 
After the ruling, City Planner CJ Hoss said Girard's explanation was not accurate and that Girard's narrative did not align with how the Community Development Department handles business.
 
"Yes, the building inspector made a mistake and gave them the green light but with all applications that require a site plan review or special permit when changes are made, applicants come back to our department to talk about the changes," he said. "Not the day of construction."
 
The Zoning Board of Appeals will ultimately make the decision.
 
The board also approved the Berkshire Family YMCA's site plans to inform a $5 million overhaul of the interior and exterior of the historic building on North Street.
 
"I love the plan from the way it looks like outside. I like the fact that you are reopening windows that have been blocked off," Herland said. "I think it will be a great addition and change to North Street."
 
The board asked about funding and YMCA board member Matt Scarafoni said they hope to both raise funds and break ground at the same time.
 
"We want to get people jazzed up," he said. "It will be a combination of the two. We have begun to raise the funds and we have had a lot of good feedback ... we will continue to raise money for as long as it takes."
 
The board asked about design and materials to be used and although YMCA representatives had a lot of these details, Scarafoni said there are still a few that have to be hashed out. 
 
"This is the Y and we are not here to make money and it is as wholesome as it gets," he said. "So we aren't sure if it will be gray or whatever but if the city comes forward and says it needs to be this to fit in, we hear that loud and clear."
 
The YMCA plans to start relocating the fitness equipment in April and then afterward, demolishing the old fitness center and basketball court to make way for the new facilities and other improvements. It plans to start the day-care center renovations in summer 2020 and have everything wrapped up by summer 2021.

Tags: marijuana,   Planning Board,   YMCA,   

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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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