Adams Conservation Approves Parking Expansion for B&B Micromanufacturing

By Brian RhodesPrint Story | Email Story

ADAMS, Mass. — The Conservation Commission has approved a notice of intent from White Engineering, on behalf of B&B Micromanufacturing, to construct an expanded parking lot and driveway.

The Planning Board gave the expansion, the intent of which is to meet the increasing needs of B&B's clients, site plan approval in September. The commission had continued the notice after feedback on the application from board members.

"[Increased demand from clients] was what necessitated the need for creating this road network and the parking of the units throughout the property," Brent White, an engineer from White Engineering representing B&B, said. "... What we've done to enhance the proposal is to create a series of swales and installation of rain guards to provide more of a true stormwater management peak-rate attenuation."

The project is already partially complete, as the applicant was unaware a notice of intent was required. The construction is within a 100-foot buffer zone of bordering vegetated wetlands.

After the changes, the commission was happy with the state and condition of the work done. White said they might need to come back if additional changes or further expansion is necessary.

"I think the work done on the finished product will satisfy the commission," said Commission Chair James Fassell. "Because even though it's kind of late, I think you did a good job with it."



In other business:

The commission approved a request for determination from Adams Spinning Mill Partners for removing vegetation at 5 and 7 Hoosac Street.

Removal of the vegetation, which surrounds the footprint of the building, will prevent damage to the structures from stormwater runoff. The project will require minor filling and grading to deal with a drainage issue.

"Shrubs, vines, and in some cases, some trees have grown up right against those structures; both at five and seven. And that they are presenting a hazard to the structural integrity of those buildings," said Emily Stockman of Stockman Associates.

The commission approved a certificate of compliance for Specialty Minerals for a water control structure, which minimizes flooding. The project was completed in 2017, but the applicant never filed for a certificate.

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St. Stan's Students Get Crash Course in Accident Reconstruction

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — State Troopers Kyle Cahoon and Sean Curley, members of the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section (CARS) Unit, met with St. Stanislaus Kostka middle school students to provide an in-depth look into the process and science behind accident reconstruction.
 
On Friday, May 17, the troopers showed students how they determine the causes of vehicular crashes and identify who may be at fault. Curley said CARS is not called to every accident but only the worst of the worst that conclude in severe injury, death, or considerable property damage.
 
"If we have a real bad crash where somebody is likely not to make it, that's when we get a phone call," he said. "The officer on the road will realize that this is a very, very serious crash, and it might be outside of his scope of what he does. He'll call the State Police."
 
He added that there are four CARS units across the state, but theirs covers the largest distance in Western Mass — from Worcester to Berkshire County.
 
"So, there are response times for us that are a long time," he said. "I have driven for almost two hours with my lights and sirens on."
 
According to Cahoon, there are three common elements that contribute to a crash: the driver, the vehicle, and the environment. He emphasized that accidents are rarely caused solely by vehicles. Instead, human factors, such as driver distraction or adverse road conditions, are typically the primary causes of accidents.
 
"It's not typically just an accident," Cahoon said. "Like they might be speeding and not paying attention, they might be on their cell phone when they shouldn't be. Ninety-nine percent of crashes we investigate are not accidents."
 
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