To the editor:
Congratulations are due to the West Stockbridge Planning Board and its decision to grant a special permit to The Foundry.
After 10 plus hours at a public hearing that was continued five times, the board concluded that the music venue was worthy of the permit despite its history of outrageous noise levels, and encroaching into neighboring business’ parking.
The fact that neighbors went on record to state that their business and/or residence have been inundated so much by noise that they can not enjoy their space did not matter. Truc Orient Express, in particular, has been affected and its owner made to be the villain in complaining that her customers cannot enjoy a meal because of the amplified sound.
Like the Select Board before it, the Planning Board thinks that attaching conditions to the permit (limit of four outdoor concerts plus a decibel limit) provides a compromise. It will not, because the conditions will not be enforced unless Truc Nguyen hires an attorney and complains. Essentially, what the Planning Board did was to ruin a business that has been in existence for almost 50 years.
Congratulations to the Planning Board! You granted a special permit (it needs to be “special”) to a new business that should not be allowed next to a long time restaurant.
JA Beacco, Jr.
Lee
