Eagle Street Developer Stymied by Tech Issues at Planning Board
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The big-ticket item on the Planning Board agenda was postponed to January when no one for Eagle Street Holdings was able to speak during the Zoom meeting.
It had first appeared that owner Veselko Buntic had missed the hearing but he had made an effort to log in and speak to the Planning Board on Monday night. According to officials, Buntic had used an email address that was not recognized and then technical issues that prevented him from addressing the board.
Planners had anticipated reviewing a proposal for eight apartments in the Tower & Porter Block on Eagle Street. Owner Veselko Buntic had submitted the plans for approval. Buntic, who has bid to purchase the Mohawk Theater, told the City Council and residents at a hearing on his plans for the theater, that he would be moving forward with the Eagle Street project.
The planners moved the hearing on the apartment proposal last at Monday's meeting and then voted to postpone to January.
The board did, however, approve two applications before it. The first was from Unfinished Projects LLC, one of the many company's affiliated with the Tourists resort, to use a house at 1272 Massachusetts Ave. for office space was approved.
The house was purchased in 2019 and is adjacent to the former Our Lady of Incarnation Church, which the resort is renovating as an event and multipurpose space.
The City Council in May approved a change to extend Business 2 zoning to 1272 Massachusetts Ave., bringing it under the same zoning as a number of the partnership's other parcels, including the former church, that were consolidated under unified zoning in 2018.
Eric Kerns, speaking for Unfinished Projects, reminded the board that one reason for the zoning extension was to be able to do a common landscaping on the side and behind the church building.
"Our desire is to be able to use this space as a field office for this construction project and then just kind of general office for a couple of our staff members to work out of," he said. "We'll be doing some some internal work on the house to adapt to our needs."
Outside, the two-story front porch section will be removed and the sides of the small back porch, though the canopy will remain.
Kerns said the front porch is "incredibly dilapidated" and is a later addition to the circa 1888 structure.
"As with many of these houses in Blackinton, the things that were added later are actually in worse shape than the original structures," he said. "This upper and lower porch here that was added on the front, we believe in the '40s probably, those are in serious disrepair and are going to be removed."
Also approved was an application by Amber Benson to operate Optimal Healing, a therapy office, on the second floor of the Carriage House at 184 East Main St.
Vicki Donahue of Cain Hibbard & Myers PC, representing the applicant and landlords Dawn and Jeremy Broadwell, said there is already an office and use of part of the first floor.
"It's supposed to be for therapy services and consulting services," she said. "They have clinicians, health experts, coaches and alternative healers to assist people in taking steps with respect to their basic life and other skills."
Hours will be Monday through Friday 8 to 6 and weekend hours may vary, but likely be from 8 to noon. Donahue said it was low intensive use, not for medical or physical therapy, so should be in keeping with uses of the property in the past. There are no changes to the driveway planned and the 13 parking spaces are more than adequate according to city ordinance.
Benson is expected to incorporate as a limited liability company after the first of the year and Donahue asked that the application approval be extended to that when it occurs.
The meeting was also the last for Chairman Michael Leary, who announced his resignation effective Tuesday. Leary has served on the board for many years and has been chairman for at least 16.
He's overseen some raucous public hearings — including for the "new" Walmart and a glamping campground — as well serving for many years on the Redevelopment Authority.
"I just wanted to let you all know how thankful I am for all of your support," he told his colleagues. "Over the years I've served for many years with people like Paul [Senecal] and Kyle [Hanlon] and Brian [Miksic] and many others. [Building Inspector] Bill Meranti, I got a lot of support from him every meeting and I appreciate that.
"So thank you all and I know that I'm leaving the board in good hands with Brian as the chairman starting in January."
The appointment of Jesse Lee Egan Poirer, a recent City Council candidate, is on the agenda for Tuesday's City Council meeting. Egan Poirer would fill Leary's term on the Redevelopment Authority to expire June 1, 2023.
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