Pittsfield Subcommittee OKs Draft Chicken Ordinance

Councilor at Large Karen Kalinowsky speaks in favor of the ordinance change for chickens. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is closer to having an affordable fee for chicken keeping.

On Monday, the Ordinances and Rules subcommittee supported a drafted ordinance that brings the cost of keeping six chickens from more than $500 to $25. 

The ordinance takes the process out of the Zoning Board of Appeals purview and requires a license similar to that of a dog.

"We've really come a long way from having to have a cost of around $500 to get chickens where this will bring it to a more equitable opportunity for anyone in the City of Pittsfield who meets the setback guidelines," Councilor at Large Peter White said.

"And those setback guidelines will be very similar to what would have been approved, to begin with, in the permit that is currently in place right now."

The Health Department’s guidelines stipulate that coops and enclosures must be located a minimum of 20 feet from any habitable building, 40 feet from any habitable building on an adjoining lot, 40 feet from any well heads or open bodies of water, and 10 feet from property lines.

There was a half-acre requirement in the original draft ordinance that was removed because of pushback.

For months, Councilor at Large Karen Kalinowsky and resident Melissa Corbett have been trying to remove the permit from the ZBA due to cost.

"We’ve reached a hill and we’re trying to go down," Kalinowsky said to her colleagues. "I hope you guys will support this, make it happen so that all people if they chose to have chickens, can afford to."

The Board of Health said "no" to taking on the permitting last month, as it did not see pricing as a valid reason to change the granting authority. Soon after, the subcommittee supported the change.

City Solicitor Stephen Pagnotta said he has drafted an amended zoning ordinance to the Department of Community Development, as the existing ordinance requires a special permit for chickens.

New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction. 

 

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

 

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

 

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

 

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

 

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

 

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.