To the Editor:
As a Lenox resident since 1965, a real estate broker and a downtown Lenox business owner since 1980, I would like to express my support for the Elm Court proposal.
I was a member of the Lenox Planning Board during the mid-1980’s when we drafted, deliberated and presented the Great Estates Preservation By-Law for approval at a Town Meeting. The bylaw was intended to encourage the preservation and restoration of a group of historically significant properties in town. It allowed for commercial uses that would generate the revenue needed to save and restore these properties while also preserving open space in perpetuity. The bylaw allowed for progress but without harming the lifestyle of Lenox especially in the residential zones of which all of these properties were located.
In every application sought under the bylaw (for development of Cranwell School to Cranwell Resort, Bellefontaine to Canyon Ranch and the Lenox School (Bible Speaks) to Shakespeare & Co.), the same opposition was always voiced: project is too big, traffic issues, public and pedestrian safety, overburdening public utilities/services, detrimental to the character and values of the adjacent neighborhoods, streetscapes or even the Town in general. Some even warned that people would stop coming to Lenox. In all fairness, I was also concerned with the Shakespeare use because of the likely increase in continual traffic from the many performances.
When the Wynden Hill condo project on Old Stockbridge Road (physically in Stockbridge like Elm Court is) was approved by Stockbridge and then also by Lenox for access, the Lenox Great Estates By-Law was generally the guide for both towns.
Every resident of Lenox prior to 1984/1985 (when the Great Estates By-Law was enacted) up to and including our newest residents, must agree that those projects did not bring the doom and gloom voiced by opponents. In fact, Town records positively show that each and every Great Estates project served as a “shot in the arm” to increasing property values, bringing needed improvements to roadways, sidewalks, water and sewer capacities and other utilities (virtually all paid by the various developments). And more people did come to Lenox as did more business and service opportunities.
In my 32 years on the Lenox Chamber of Commerce, several of those years as its president and a larger number of years as a very active board member, I have seen and experienced the growth of the Lenox business community far beyond what it was prior to 1985. Unfortunately, that growth has stagnated in the last eight years or so and today we see a dozen or more empty downtown storefronts and office spaces. The Lenox business community and even the Town of Lenox Water and Sewer departments absolutely need the added revenue streams and customers that the Elm Court expansion would generate — year to year.
It is my understanding that the developer will fund an expansion/improvement to the Old Stockbridge Road sewer line and also fund and build a much needed sidewalk from downtown to Elm Court for better pedestrian safety and convenience to those folks living in that area.
As a 50-year resident, a business and commercial property owner and a solid “Lenoxite,” I can readily anticipate and appreciate that the Elm Court expansion project will also positively impact Lenox on several fronts as did the previous projects.
Bob Romeo
510 Walker St
Lenox
