Pittsfield's Department of Community Development to Hold Second Public Workshop

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield's Department of Community Development has announced a public workshop and input session as part of the preparation of the City's Master Plan, Pathway to 2036 on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 6:00p.m. 
 
This workshop will be held at Conte Community School located at 200 West Union Street in Pittsfield.
 
In collaboration with VHB, the Department has initiated a year-long planning process aimed at crafting a Master Plan that will guide the city's growth and change while preserving its unique character and reflecting shared community values. The updated Master Plan will serve as a key policy document for physical development, addressing critical areas such as land use, infrastructure, sustainability.
 
Input from city residents is a crucial part of the planning process. Residents are encouraged to attend to learn about the planning process and provide their feedback. The meeting will also provide a brief discussion on the development of the Westside zoning project that was undertaken by the city in 2025. This is the second public workshop to solicit community input.
 
For additional details about the event, please contact:
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Dalton Police Facility Report Complete; Station Future Still Uncertain

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee's final report is complete but the future of the station remains uncertain. 
 
Several members of the committee attended the Select Board meeting last week, as co-Chair Craig Wilbur presented four options delineated in the presentation — build on town-owned land, build on private land, renovate or repurpose the existing buildings, and do nothing. The full report can be found here
 
According to the report, addressing the station's needs coincides with the town facing significant financial challenges, with rising fixed costs and declining state aid straining its budget. 
 
These financial pressures restrict the town's ability to fund major capital projects and a new police station has to compete with a backlog of deferred infrastructure needs like water, sewer, roads, and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.
 
In June 2024, Police Chief Deanna Strout informed the board of the station's dire condition — including issues with plumbing, mold, ventilation, mice, water damage, heating, and damaged cells — prompting the board to take action on two fronts. 
 
The board set aside American Rescue Plan Act funds to address the immediately dire issues, including the ventilation, and established the Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee to navigate long-term options
 
Very early on it was determined that the current facility is not adequate enough to meet the needs of a 21st-century Police Facility. This determination was backed up following a space needs assessment by Jacunski Humes Architects LLC
 
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