Dalton Historical Told Drive-Throughs Won't Affect Historical Districts
DALTON, Mass. — The Historical Commission was relieved to learn last week that the proposed drive-through bylaw will not include the town's three historic districts.
The commission had declined to endorse the bylaw over concerns over its possible effects, particularly on the two districts that are still in the process of being designated historical areas.
"The Town Planner [Grant McGregor] came over to the office and talked to us and said that the Planning Board is going to adopt a drive-through bylaw that will be on the town meeting in May, and that they adopted our proposals to say no drive-through is allowed in one historic district and our two proposed historic districts," said Vice Chairwoman Louisa Horth.
The commissioners, however, did not formally vote to endorse the bylaw at last Wednesday's meeting.
They did get an update on the recommendations to have the bylaw include conditions to protect the sanctity of the historical districts. They had reached out to the Planning Board after a special meeting held on March 7 requesting that conditions be added to the proposal to protect the historical districts.
The requested section would prohibit drive-throughs being built in historic districts aside from banks and car washes.
The commissions argued that many other towns in Berkshire County do not allow drive-throughs in their historic districts and that Dalton should follow in their example.
The members also requested that the board include a stipulation that would require a special permit that would be subject to the Design Review Board for approval.
It is still unclear if the planners will include adding a special permit subject by the Design Review Board to the proposal but the committee was pleased to find out that they plan on adding the stipulation to prevent drive-throughs in the first approved historical district.
Craneville Historic District is the first approved historic district and is located on Main and South Street. The commissioners said the district has a rich history because of the activity in building, acquiring, and using the homes in the center of Craneville.
The remaining two proposed historical districts, East Main Street and Dalton Center, are still in the process of being approved. It is going to cost $30,000 to have someone from the Massachusetts Historical Commission review the sites and the documentations so that the site can be officially designated as historical.
The proposed East Main Street historic district is located east of North Street and extends to Orchard Road. This district includes historical houses in Georgian, Greek revival, East Lake and craftsman styles, and later Cape Cod and ranch style, and features the oldest burial ground in town.
The proposed Dalton Center historic district runs down Main street and features a variety of historical landmarks including Mitchell Tavern, St. Agnes' Church, Zenas Crane Colt's colonial revival, and many more buildings that showcase Italian and Greek revival styles.
Horth wrote to Town Manager Tom Hutcheson requesting that the town give the committee $30,000 to complete the other two proposed historical districts.
"I moved the town transfer $15,000 from free cash as a grant match for establishing the towns to remaining proposed historic districts. A yes vote would allow the historic committee to complete their applications for two historic districts in town," Hutcheson wrote back.
Next year, the commissioners plans to apply for a grant through Mass Historical to cover the cost because they missed the deadline this year.
"Mass Historical's grants come out in January so we missed this year's but we didn't have this matching grant. And we don't know if we'll have the matching grant until after the town meeting in May," Horth said.
The proposed drive-through bylaw and the request for free cash transfer will be presented during the town meeting in May.
Tags: drive-through, historical commission,
