Adams Planning Board OKs Site Plan for Greylock Glen Outdoor Center
The outdoor center will include exhibition space, classrooms, a restaurant and welcome lobby.
ADAMS, Mass. — The site plans for the new outdoor center at the Greylock Glen was given the stamp of approval on Monday — nearly a decade after the project was first endorsed by the Planning Board.
"I don't know if the board members recall but in July of 2012, this board reviewed the proposed Greylock Glen project and you issued us a special permit under the planned unit resort development," said Donna Cesan, the town's special projects coordinator. "At the time in issuing and approving that special permit, you stated that if after 10 years no development has been initiated, the special permit shall expire.
"So I'm particularly pleased that where we are within that time, bringing the Outdoor Center Project site plan approval to you tonight."
Long-gestating project appears to finally coming to fruition, thanks in large part to the release of $6.5 million in state funding for its construction earlier this year.
The 9,200-square foot outdoor center, envisioned as a multi-use structure with a 75-seat restaurant, exhibit space and classrooms, was designed by Maclay Architects.
Michael Petrin, project manager with Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc., led the board through the stormwater, parking and utility plans for the building.
The center will be located off Gould Road and will include an outdoor patio, paved entrances and 64 parking spaces.
"We have provided a loop around as well the drop-off for buses but also fire apparatus," Petrin said. "We have a stabilized gravel pull-off area, as well as concrete pavers for the walkways.
For stormwater management, there will be swales detention basins around the site, he said. "Our discharge locations are going to be within resource area or buffer zone, that will be jurisdictional under the Conservation Commission. So they will need to approve it."
There were some concerns raised about maintenance of the natural basins but Cesan said these would be maintained by the town just as it maintains parks and other town facilities.
Water and water for fire suppression will come in from Gould Road and sewer will follow the same route. One change in the plans presented to the board was the elimination of a standalone pumphouse for the fire protection line. That was not considered feasible, so it is now attached to the building with a separate water line going in.
Cesan reminded the board that the town has entered an agreement with the Water District to analyze and construct the water system.
Electric lines will be brought in underground as well. Petrin said EV charging stations would eventually be installed.
The board members asked about solar plans and Cesan responded that solar is not part of this phase but is being considered for the future.
"We're investigating that currently, but because of the roofline of the building is so varied it was determined it was impractical to put solar panels on the roof," she said. "We are looking at solar carports ... we'd like to do at least one or two of those as a demonstration, but we're also talking about off-site, provision of solar that would serviced this facility."
The sign-off marks a significant move in finally developing the Greylock Glen. The town was made the developer after a number of other projects fell through over the decades but has struggled to realize a vision first laid out in 2009.
Not that there hasn't been progress: 19 miles of trails have been completed, water and septic lines were extended to Gould Road and the roundabout at Friend and Columbia streets was designed to aid the anticipated increase in traffic.
Future work envisions an amphitheater, campgrounds, and a lodge on the 60-acre parcel of the Mount Greylock State Reservation.
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