North Adams Planners OK 10 Short-Term Rentals

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Planning Board approved 10 special permits for short-term rentals during a brief meeting on Monday night. 
 
The City Council last year had set fees and permitting regulations for short-term rentals in the city after more than four years of debate. 
 
Special permits are required for rentals in buildings in which the owners do not live, according to the ordinance. Inspection fees for non-owner are $350, and the annual fee is also $350.
 
The Planning Board has already approved several special permits but Monday night had the highest number so far. No other matters were on the agenda. 
 
Approved were: 
 
Harding Avenue Realty LLC for 120 Harding Ave.; Matthew Swindell for 13 Holbrook St.; Berkshire One LLC for 71 North Holden St.; Craig Ferris for 35 Olds St.; Paul Chebiniak for 182 East Main St.; Cheri Rozycki for 375 Houghton St.; Carol LeBlanc for 17 North Church St.; Thomas Linden for 303 East Main St.; Emily Hobson for 49 Brooklyn St., and Mian Wang and Anthony Szeto for 29 Central Ave. 
 
Planners Rye Howard and Robert Burdick noted the requirement that non-owner occupied STRs have a local manager listed and asked where that was on the application form. 
 
Building Inspector William Meranti said the application the planners had was for the special permit. 
 
"The applicant for the short-term rental comes into the Office of Community Development and my office," he said. "It would not have made it to this portion of the meeting without [a local manager listed]."
 
"You've seen it and you're satisfied?" asked Burdick, with Meranti responding, "it would not have made its way here."
 
Richard Lord, who was with his sister, Patricia, said they were two of the three owners of 120 Harding Ave., which had been their parents' home of many years. He assured the planners that they had a local manager who was listed on their STR application. 
 
The planners asked no questions of the permit applicants and summarily approved all 10 permits. 
 
Planners Kyle Hanlon and Paul Senecal had been tasked with nominations and advised that the current slate of officers be kept. Chair Brian Miksic, who was absent, and Vice Chair Jesse Lee Egan Poirier were re-elected to office. 

Tags: Planning Board,   short-term rentals,   

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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

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