Letter: Richmond Has Options to Reduce Building Density

To the Editor:

This year, the governor of Massachusetts signed a new bill into law that overrides every town in the commonwealth's zoning regarding ADUs (Additional/Accessory Dwelling Units). Every house in the commonwealth can now have an additional dwelling unit (house, cottage, guest house, etc.) up to 900 square feet on the same building lot as the primary house. The town you live in cannot do anything to prevent these as they are "by right" per the state government.

How would you feel if your neighbor built a 900 square foot secondary house next to you on a lot that was zoned for one house? You may not like or agree with it, but there is nothing you or the town can do about it. It's unfortunate that the state did this and didn't leave it up to the individual towns. The governor may have had good intentions on helping the housing shortage but in some towns, these may be built for other reasons than she intended. I believe that to be the case with our town.

Those of us who are lucky enough to live in Richmond can do something to at least reduce the density of buildings in our town before it is too late! I believe we should increase the minimum building lot size in the RA-C zone from 2.5 acres to 3 acres. Most of West Stockbridge requires 3 acres to build, and I believe we should as well. This won't impact any pre-existing building lots, just land that is subdivided in the future. We don't want building upon building. That's not why we live here.

We can also go one step further and increase the frontage of newly created building lots from the current 250 feet of frontage to 275 feet of frontage. It's a very small increase with a nice future appeal. Again, this won't impact any pre-existing building lots, just land that is subdivided in the future

There isn't much time left, so let's preserve what we love about our town while we can. Once it is too late and things are built, there is no going back.

James Shoemaker
Richmond, Mass. 

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.