NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Taylors are expanding their food service business again, this time in support of their catering operations. 

 

The Planning Board on Monday approved Berkshire Catering's special permit to operate a storage unit at 708 State Road.

 

"We opened Berkshire Catering company last year and we grew because catering grew," said Colleen Taylor, who operates Baystate Hospitality Group with her brother, Sean Taylor. "We have a couple of trailers, we have a pig roasting grill, and lots of like small wares, just that type of stuff.

 

"We also have a liquor license for Berkshire Catering Co. that's separate from our other buildings so we really need [the space]."

 

Baystate also operates Freight Yard Pub, Trail House Kitchen and Bar and Craft Food Barn, a takeout restaurant.

 

The building, which formerly housed Tunnel City Auto, has an office, storage space, two bays and a fenced in yard at the corner of Chantilly Avenue.

 

Taylor said they plan to purchase the property and will be investing in updating the exterior and landscaping. 

 

"We want to soften that look. It's very hard. That whole area is very hard," she said. "So grading, landscaping, maybe on the side put some grass, there's a lot of automobiles there. So that will all be removed."

 

She did not anticipate a lot of traffic at the location since it will largely be used for storage. 

 

"We will be in and out on weekends," she said. "More in the summertime. than in the winter. That type of stuff."

 

Taylor also provided a preliminary rendering of the signage that will be on the signpost and in the picture window.

 

The board approved the permit with no conditions. It also endorsed a Form A to combine several contiguous lots into one for Robert and Carol Colantuono at 124 Charles St. 

 

Form As rarely cause discussion but in this case, several of the Colantuonos' neighbors attended the meeting because they were unsure what was happening after seeing surveyors near their own properties.

 

"My property was surveyed and I don't know why," said one woman.

 

Chairman Brian Miksic and Planner Kyle Hanlon assured the group that there would be no effect on their property lines.

 

"They are literally just taking what is there and putting it together or taking it apart," said Miksic. "That's what this form is for. So it's not going to affect you. By law, it cannot affect anyone else other than the owner."

 

The survey would have been done by a private company and paid for by the property owner, he said, so they would not have been notified by the city.

 

Hanlon provided them with a copy of the site plan, which is public record.