Bylaw changes approved in Stockbridge

STOCKBRIDGE – This time, the controversial cottage-era estate bylaw passed town meeting along with 31 other articles.

The bylaw, which pertains to five “great estate” properties in Stockbridge, provides for an addition to the main building that is smaller, shorter, connected to and behind the principal structure on a great estate, which is defined as a property with at least 80 acres.

Much of the public debate over the change centered on Elm Court, which was purchased in July 2012 by Travaasa Experiential Resorts, a Colorado-based hospitality company. The company now plans to further restore the property and add a secondary adjacent wing behind the main house that will include more than 80 more rooms over an additional 44,000 square feet.

At a special town meeting late last winter, the article received a majority vote, 61-55, but due to a lack of the two-thirds vote required for approval, it failed.

Since that special town meeting, Chris Manning, president of Travaasa Experiential Resorts, held meetings with residents of Stockbridge who had been opponents of the changes to hear their concerns, show them the scope of the project and to get their input on changes to the new bylaw.

Mr. Manning also hosted an open house for Stockbridge and Lenox residents interested in getting an inside look at the historic gilded age cottage and to explain why he and his company feel the bylaw change should have been approved.

Other articles

The town operating budget of $5,418,874 and a $2,425,258 appropriation for Berkshire Hills Regional School District were both approved with little dissent.

Article 10 approved the purchase of a new police cruiser and was easily passed.

Voters also approved article 27, a temporary moratorium on the use of land and structures for a medical marijuana treatment center until Aug. 31, 2014.

Residents then approved changes to an article passed in 1951 that allowed the town to close Taghconic View, Mahkeenac Heights and Indian Road in the winter, and those roads have been removed from that listing.

Posted by Kameron Z. Spaulding on May 23, 2013. Filed under Community News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry