PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Conservation Commission signed off on the construction of a new Taco Bell on Dalton Avenue.
The commission voted Thursday to amend an order pertaining to the construction of the fast-food outfit on vacant land adjacent to the Medex building
"I think all in all this project works better from a standpoint of the wetlands rules and the riverfront redevelopment standards point of view," Conservation Agent Robert Van Der Kar said.
Previously the property was to be developed as a gas station and Van Der Kar said the fast-food chain may be closer to the riverfront but this is an improvement over gas pumps and tanks.
He added that the project included an improved stormwater control system including rain gardens.
He said he saw no need to add any new conditions to the application
"I don’t see really any need," he said. "I thought it was a fine project."
The new Taco Bell will replace the current Taco Bell in Berkshire Crossing.
The applicant proposes building a new 2,700-square foot, 50-seat building with potential of a drive-through.
The project will also include a 32-space parking lot.
Some commissioners wanted some more time with the application and Commissioner Jonathan Lothrop asked for a continuance.
"It is a substantially different project than the one we have ... I am not sure I have had enough time to absorb it," he said.
A motion was made to continue the hearing but it failed with a 3-3 vote.
The next motion was to approve the change. This passed with a 5-1 vote with only Lothrop in the negative.
"I feel like this is much less of an impact than the Cumberland farms," Commissioner Thomas Sakshaug said. "I am pretty good with the plan."
There was some discussion about changing individual plantings and stormwater control. Some commissioners also wanted to see less paved surface for parking.
The Community Development Board will review the project in the near future.
In other business, the commission approved a three-year extension to the Hancock Road culvert replacement project.
"It looks great and at this point, it is in its second phase," Van Der Kar said. "They are ready to work but need some more time."
This is a city project and Public Works Commissioner Ricardo Morales said they are finalizing the bid package and plan to send it out at the end of the month. He said they hope to break ground soon after.
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BCC to Hold 'Experience BCC'
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) will hold Experience BCC on Wednesday, April 19 from 9 am-12 pm.
Designed to introduce potential BCC students to a typical day on campus, the event is held during Berkshire County high schools' spring break, making it easy for high school students to attend.
Potential BCC students have the opportunity to sit in on a classroom experience and discover how BCC offers the same high-quality education as other colleges, but for a fraction
of the cost. Participants will:
Meet faculty, staff and students
Enjoy a free breakfast and lunch
Learn about paying for college
Hear about more than 50 programs of study offered at BCC
Get the scoop on transferring
Take a tour of the campus
Participants start the day with a free breakfast, followed by breakout sessions featuring faculty-led, hands-on experiences from 9:30-10 am and 10:10-10:40 am. Sessions include:
Nursing with Dean of Nursing Lori Moon in the SIM Lab
STEM with Assistant Professor of Engineering José Colmenares
Allied Health with Physical Therapist Assistant Program Director Michele Darroch
Writing workshop with Writing Across the Curriculum Coordinator Liesl Schwabe
The Traffic Commission on Thursday voted in favor of two "No Right on Red" signs and heard plans for the intersection of Linden Street and Onota Street. click for more
And on Saturday, dozens more from Berkshire, Hampden and Hampshire counties were at Lenox Town Hall for state Sen. Paul Mark's "Beacon Hill in the Berkshires" featuring chairs of Senate committees and State Auditor Diana DiZoglio. click for more
The Hall, which was started in 2013, inducted one other coach on Saturday, Wahconah's Jim Duquette, along with players Stephanie Young Kerr (Lee), Nicole LaFave Patella (Lenox) and Sara Hamilton (Wahconah). click for more
Around 100 people stood at Park Square on Saturday morning to honor the 27 Berkshire County residents who were killed in action in Vietnam. click for more
The School Committee got a first look at the upcoming budget request on Wednesday. The $78,310,016 ask is an 8.17 percent — or $5,911,754 — increase from FY23's budget of $72,398,262.
click for more