If I had to say what is common to all good art, whether it be architecture, art, cinema, dance, music, or any other form, I’d say it was, finally, the unpredictable.
In her letter to the editor, Sharon Gregory writes: "This recreational area is nearby town, linking walkable areas from Main Street to the Lake and incorporates a hiking trail in between. It is a unique feature."
The hotel was designed by the same people who designed the adjacent former Bryant School, turning it into Iredale Mineral Cosmetics’ modern world headquarters while sensitively preserving the former school’s charms.
In his letter to the editor, Jonathan Hankin writes: "Lake Mansfield is, and should continue to be, a true community asset. Much of what has been explored and presented to date by the design team fails to reflect this point of view."
“If I’d known what town counsel said, I’d have voted differently."
Planning Board member Jack Musgrove, on his vote to recommend the proposed 95-room Berkshire Hotel on the site of the Searles School
A site plan review leaves no room for public comment. Planning Board Chairman Jonathan Hankin had to remind everyone that the Selectboard’s special permit hearing Nov. 9 is the place to voice opinions about the project.
A hotel in the middle of town should be an amenity to the town. Rather than wait for events to unfold, I felt we had to seize some initiative, and show them what an alternative [to their design] might be.”
-- Jack Musgrove, member of the Great Barrington Planning Board
Since it was unveiled two weeks ago, the hotel proposal has taken some hits over the design and size, since its historic designation allows it to evade the town’s 45-room hotel limit bylaw.
In a letter to the editor, Nick Stanton writes: "Any time or effort spent discussing or planning how to redistribute our town taxes differently, however well intentioned, cannot solve the longstanding inherent unfairness of how our school operating costs are apportioned between the member towns."
“We want to create zoning that better reflects the fabric of the village. The hope is to have fewer hoops to jump through if people want to invest money in their property.”
--- Planning Board Chair Jonathan Hankin
Planning Board Chairman Jonathan Hankin hopes the designation of volunteers as "Special Municipal Employee" will “encourage more volunteers to fill vacancies on town boards and committees and not prevent all volunteers from doing business in our town,” he wrote in an earlier email to the Selectboard. “We need to reward people who donate their time, energy and considerable expertise in serving the town, not punish them.”
"Any significant structural work to the road — beyond a simple paving job -- will require the extensive environmental permitting."
-- Town Planner Christopher Rembold
I was struck by the notion that every dollar donated — in serving three goals —would effectively triple in value: supporting a local farmer, preserving our rural landscapes, and providing fresh, healthy food to community members in need.
-- Jonathan Hankin, founder of Share the Bounty
According to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, roughly one in eight people continues to experience hunger in this part of the Commonwealth, an eye-opening fact. Furthermore, one in five children lives in food-insecure households.
