To the editor:
In recent years, Lenox has witnessed a troubling shift: decisions by the Lenox Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) seem increasingly skewed toward powerful out-of-state corporate interests over the well-being of local residents. This tendency raises concerns not just about individual projects but about the ZBA’s role as a steward of our town’s safety, character, and values. As Lenox residents, it’s our responsibility to demand greater accountability and a return to evidence-based, community-centered planning.
Research and data underscore how unchecked development, especially by absentee owners, often leads to lasting consequences for towns like ours. For example, a higher volume of traffic on roads like Old Stockbridge Road—lacking sidewalks, shoulders, and adequate visibility—directly correlates with increased pedestrian risk, particularly for children. Despite this, the ZBA has permitted additional projects that funnel traffic onto this road, increasing hazards to pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. The recent 70 Kemble Street housing development proposal, which relies on Old Stockbridge Road as a primary access point, exemplifies this risk. Studies show that narrow roads without sidewalks are 2.3 times more likely to experience pedestrian accidents than roads with adequate pedestrian infrastructure, yet ZBA approval continues without mandated improvements.
Furthermore, Linda Law, owner of Elm Court, was actually sued in a class action lawsuit filed in the Supreme Court by her Lenox employees for allegedly stealing tip money—a case she later settled, but which speaks volumes about her approach to business. Currently, she faces more charges of unscrupulous business practices in Marin County, California. Despite this troubling track record, the Lenox Zoning Board of Appeals has continued to extend her special use permits, essentially enabling this kind of behavior by permitting developers to defer critical obligations and avoid accountability.
Blantyre’s owners, Ken Fulk and Clark Lyda, provide another case study. After failing to pay contractors, they now face a $3 million lien on the Blantyre property and are also delinquent in paying property taxes on other properties they own. The ethical lapse here is evident: absentee owners bring profit-driven interests into our town, potentially undermining Lenox’s economy and compromising trust with our community’s local contractors. Studies on local economic impact repeatedly demonstrate that absentee-owned, corporatized development drains resources from small communities, reducing local control and community-oriented investments over time
The pattern is unmistakable. Out-of-state corporate developers benefit from generous ZBA extensions while neglecting their community obligations. Meanwhile, the residents of Lenox—the people who pay local taxes, support local businesses, and walk these roads with their families—are left with increased traffic, deteriorating road safety, and growing distrust in local governance.
This isn’t just about a few projects; it’s about safeguarding our town’s future. Data, ethics, and common sense demand that the ZBA stop granting these generous extensions to absentee developers who do not uphold their responsibilities. Lenox’s historic charm, family-centered neighborhoods, and safety deserve to be the priorities guiding development decisions.
We, the residents of Lenox, must stand together to demand a return to science-backed, community-focused zoning practices that serve us—not absentee corporate oligarchs. Only through concerted action can we protect Lenox as a place defined by its people, its values, and its commitment to safety and integrity.
Michael Lucia
Lenox, Mass.
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