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Pittsfield ZBA Continues Seymour Street Marijuana Cultivator Hearing

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Zoning Board of Appeals continued a hearing by request of the applicant True East Leaf.
 
The brief meeting on Wednesday was to act on the request of proposed indoor marijuana cultivators who asked to continue the hearing until February. 
 
"This has been continued for several months at this point," Chairman Albert Ingegni III noted.  
 
True East Leaf looks to operate at 161 Seymour St. and is seeking a special permit to do this. However, according to Permitting Coordinator Nate Joyner, the owners have to put some finishing touches on some design work.
 
Joyner said other than that, they had no more correspondence on the project.
 
"We have not received anything else or any other comments on that," Joyner said.
 
The Community Development Board gave True East Leaf the go-ahead last year. It did waive a city parking requirement but included in its recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals that the permit only be given if True East Leaf can square away its lack of parking and designate off-street parking for employees.
 
The ZBA also heard from True East Leaf in September and although the cultivator's attorney said they solved the parking issue, the board aired its own concerns about parking congestion in the area and possible order and its effect on surrounding businesses.
 
This was also a concern of area restaurant Tahiti Take-Out.
 
That hearing was also continued.
 
Board member John Fitzgerald also pointed out that True East Leaf has asked for multiple continuations. He said as far as his vote, this will be the last one he will allow.
 
"This has gone on for several months," he said. "I think in my opinion this would be the last chance because we have given them plenty of time."
 
The meeting lasted under five minutes and the next meeting was scheduled for Feb. 19. 

Tags: marijuana,   Planning Board,   

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Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective Hope

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A new chapter in local efforts to combat housing insecurity officially began as community leaders and residents gathered at The First on to celebrate a major expansion of supportive housing in the city.

The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street.  The Housing Resource Center, funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars, hosted a celebration for a project that is named for its rarity: The First. 

"What got us here today is the power of community working in partnership and with a shared purpose," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said. 

In addition to the 28 studio units at 111 West Housatonic Street and nine units in the rear of the church building, the Housing Resource Center will be open seven days a week with two lounges, a classroom, a laundry room, a bathroom, and lockers. 

Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, challenged attendees to transform the space in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church into a community center.  It is planned to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round.

"I get calls from folks that want to help out, and our shelters just aren't the right spaces to be able to do that. The First will be that space that we can all come together and work for the betterment of our community," Forbush said. 

"…I am a true believer that things evolve, and things here will evolve with the people that are utilizing it." 

Earlier that day, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and her team in Housatonic to announce $33.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, $5.45 million to Berkshire County. 

He said it was ambitious to take on these two projects at once, but it will move the needle.  The EOHLC contributed more than $7.8 million in subsidies and $3.4 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the West Housatonic Street build, and $1.6 million in ARPA funds for the First Street apartments.

"We're trying to get people out of shelter and off the streets, but we know there are a lot of people who are couch surfing, who are living in their cars, who are one paycheck away from being homeless themselves," Augustus said. 

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