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."
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.
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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HQWD Rescinds Proposed FY25 Budget Over Sludge Disposal Changes
By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
The commissioners also heard from David Irwin Jr., right, on the fiscal 2024 annual audit.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Contaminated sludge is off the table for the Hoosac Water Quality District.
The HWQD's board on Wednesday voted to rescind its approved $1.5 million budget after Casella Waste Management withdrew its option to truck untreated residential sewage from other communities to the Williamstown facility and then distribute the composted product elsewhere.
Secondly, said Bradley O. Furlon, district manager, the state has extended the wastewater district's ability to compost its own sludge by two years.
"With these two changing developments ... I feel that it's not feasible to go with any of the Casella options. It's not feasible with budgeting to go with either of the Synagro options," said Furlon. "Right at this moment, it's most feasible to continue to compost our own sludge, as we've been operating for the past four years at the district."
Processed human solid waste has been found to contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, which have been linked to cancer. The district's budget had included an option to take possibly contaminated waste from Casella, which would then sell it elsewhere, with an estimated savings of $500,000.
The Williamstown Finance Committee had unanimously endorsed the budget, with the Casella option, but the Select Board voted two weeks ago against recommending it to the annual town meeting. The city of North Adams is the other partner in the wastewater district.
The new developments were a relief to the 30 or so attendees at Wednesday's meeting, held in City Council Chambers because of the expected audience. But they also expected more to be done to prevent the dispersion of PFAS.
The HWQD's board on Wednesday voted to rescind its approved $1.5 million budget after Casella Waste Management withdrew its option to truck untreated residential sewage from other communities to the Williamstown facility and then distribute the composted product elsewhere.
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Article 3 failed 81-85, as did companion questions for appointing the assistant engineers and the clerk/treasurer. They will remain elected positions.
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Reflecting national trends, schools in the Berkshires and across Western Massachusetts have experienced a decrease in student-athletes playing football. Previously, Drury fielded a cooperative team with Mount Greylock, while Hoosac Valley and McCann Tech operated independent football programs. click for more
Ashlyn Lesure scored 18 points, and Regan Shea and Emma Meczywor added 15 and 11, respectively, as the Hurricanes successfully defended their 2024 state crown and won the program’s fourth state title in a run that has seen Hoosac Valley go to the state final nine times since 2014. click for more
Pittsfield High's Matt Dupuis and Lee's Devyn Fillio Sunday won the boys and girls individual high school bowling State Championships at Spare Time.
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