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New American-style restaurant slated for Lee in site of former Baja Charlie’s

The town submitted its comments on proposed accessory dwelling unit regulations and acquired the rights to a nearly 18-acre tract in an effort to safeguard the town's water sources.

Lee — Restaurant options in town are opening up. The Select Board unanimously approved a license January 7 for Lee’s Corner Kitchen to operate at 62 West Center Street, the site of the former Baja Charlie’s California Cuisine.

Owner Emre Semerci filed an application with the town of Lee for the new restaurant on December 23, stating that the eatery will offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner “in a cozy atmosphere.” “Our role is to contribute to the local dining scene and be a valuable part of the Lee community, create jobs, [work] with other businesses, and be a contributor to the economy,” Semerci said at the Select Board meeting.

With 900 square feet, the restaurant will maintain the same entry as Baja Charlie’s and will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day except Tuesday. However, at this time, the new establishment will not serve alcohol.

“I think this is great,” Board Member Sean Regnier said. “I like to see a business come in after one, unfortunately, folds up.”

Resident Kathy Hall expressed excitement for the endeavor, especially “another place that has breakfast.”

The Berkshire Edge reached out to Semerci for comment but did not receive a response by press time.

Town comments to proposed Commonwealth accessory dwelling unit (ADU) changes

At the meeting, the Select Board accepted a draft of comments from the town’s Planning Board covering ADUs that were submitted to the Commonwealth for approval before the January 10 submittal deadline. Those comments can be found here.

An ADU is generally considered to be a rentable living space attached or detached to a single-family-home lot.

In August, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed into law the Affordable Homes Act, legislation intended to provide more than 65,000 homes within the Commonwealth by 2029. Touted as “the most ambitious legislation in Massachusetts to tackle the state’s greatest challenge—housing costs,” the law denies municipalities the ability to unreasonably restrict ADUs, states a press release produced by the administration’s Press Secretary Karissa Hand. That legislation goes into effect on February 2.

Similar local governments have been wrestling with the issue since the summer, trying to define the specifics of the new requirements. The West Stockbridge Planning Board put their efforts on hold, deferring moving forward with a local bylaw until more of the new regulation is explained.

Presented by Lee Town Planner Brooke Healey, the comments suggest the state create a more concise definition of what an ADU is, including clarifying which zoning districts within a town are affected by the rule, such as single-family-home districts, and determining how ADUs would be applied in conjunction with special permits, variances, waivers, and prior property uses that are nonconforming to the zoning district in which the tracts are located.

“The entire thing was talked through and explained,” Healey addressed the dais regarding the Planning Board’s comment letter. Although board members asked questions about the Commonwealth’s ADU legislation, no queries were made by the public.

Town signs off on purchase of about 18 acres at 3 Off Lander Road

Select Board members unanimously approved the purchase agreement of a 17.8-acre tract at 3 Off Landers Road for $52,400, with the action intended to safeguard the town’s water sources. “We have a unique opportunity to purchase a piece of property that would further protect our water source on October Mountain,” said Select Board Chair Gordon Bailey.

According to Bailey, the town doesn’t own every property “that might have runoff go toward either a primary water source or a backup reservoir.” “This offers us an opportunity to be in control of the properties that run off onto our water sources,” he said.

That agreement can be found here.

Regnier commented that the value per acre sales price is “pretty good” for the property.

The sale is contingent on residents’ approval at a Town Meeting.

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