Editorial

Editorial: Tradeoffs — Trading Up or Down?

Preservation

We don’t have to preserve everything. Ask: what makes one place uniquely, and distinctly, that place? Let’s preserve that. 

One mistake we make is that we call it preserving the past. Truth is, as we consider the many development proposals — DeSisto, Elm Court, Glendale Middle Road, a new school — we are engaged in preserving our future. What Berkshire will be in twenty years is based on what we decide to build or tear down, allow or disallow, now. What are the possibilities and most important, what are the tradeoffs?

Progress and preservation, land use and land conservation are simultaneously cross-supportive and at odds. If we accept that change is inevitable and at the same time acknowledge that preservation and conservation are parts of sound planning, we do not have a solution; we have merely defined the problem. If change is inevitable, how do we preserve? If preservation is desirable, how do we progress?

Affordable Housing

Stockbridge always had affordable housing, and expensive housing; we had a bell curve of housing. Now the median price of a house in Stockbridge is $700,000. Building in Stockbridge is estimated at more than $500/sq. ft. So, what happened? Lots of things.

Land use is a trade-off. Preserving open space decreases the amount of land available and therefore causes the price of land to rise. If land is more expensive, keeping moderate-priced housing available or building affordable housing is more difficult. Some of us support both land conservation and affordable housing without realizing the contradiction.

Some proponents of affordable housing are, at the same time, opposed to cluster housing and high-rise buildings without realizing that this combination makes housing unaffordable to all but the privileged few. The contradiction is not in the minds of the people but in the complex and interdependent aspects of the problem.

Let’s talk historic preservation. Preserving historic buildings adds to the beauty and charm of a place, and in Stockbridge, it is part of our economic base. Historic preservation is more than a source of communal pride, it attracts tourist dollars. Many of us are passionate preservationists without realizing that every historic structure saved and organized as a 501c3 removes it from the tax rolls and takes large swathes of land off the market. That combination of lower taxes and higher land cost directly impacts affordable housing production.

That doesn’t tell us where our affordable housing went. Folks came in and bought it. Small unprepossessing cabins on the lake, small and well-worn houses on busier streets, were purchased, torn down, and replaced with grander houses. We learned we cannot control the cost of a house, and we learned no homeowner wants us to. Long-time residents in Stockbridge watch their home prices reach dizzying heights and see their retirement funds grow. 

We are here now, and the government has to artificially produce affordable housing — with subsidies. Subsidizing housing comes from taxes. Housing is produced or sold as affordable which means the taxpayer pays the difference between market price and affordability. It is unsustainable. Who can pay enough to reinflate a bell curve of housing? Moreover, there is an irony in taxes subsidizing housing. Higher real estate taxes can create a whole new group of house-poor, or worse, homeless. 

Okay, let’s build cheaper. Building up is cheaper than building out — attached dwellings are cheaper. Oh, but wait, that increases density which also raises municipal costs paid by taxes. What is the tradeoff — affordable housing swapped for crippling taxes and a sign that reads “densely populated” near the “Welcome to Stockbridge” sign?

What can the government do? It can control the cost of running the household but that means lowering utility bills, and oh yeah, lowering taxes. 

Every decision the community makes about historic preservation, land conservation, allowable density, provide housing and destroy animal habitat, every single one opens one door as it closes another. As we choose, we form our future.

by Carole Owens, Executive Editor

News

SU FYI

Louis Peyron

1. Louis J. Peyron Sr., 1935 — 2024, Stockbridge Police Sergeant, Stockbridge Fire Chief, and beloved member of our village. I remember Louis, we all do. The ubiquitous Louis Peyron, always there when needed. He was that fire chief and policeman that actually did make you feel safer.

There is a story about Louis, and I believe it. He was the one chosen to train new recruits to the Stockbridge police force. He would take them out on the streets — on foot or in a cruiser — and say, “Look around. See the people? That is who you work for.” 

What a contrast with a more modern member of the force who told me with a straight face, “My job is to protect the Chief.” 

“But then whose job is it to protect us?”

We will all miss Louis because we were so lucky to have him. Rest in peace, Sarge, for you, it is end of watch.

2. Clarification

At the request of Victoria Clifford, Skanska USA Building, Inc., Program Manager for the Monument Mountain Regional High School (MMRHS) Feasibility Study, SU is offering this clarification.

Following are two screenshots of exhibits shown during the meeting and posted in the last issue of SU. Those interested can watch the entire meeting on CTSBTV.org/ click on “Education” and then click on Monument Mountain Regional High School (MMRHS) Virtual Community Information Session, presented by the MMRHS Building Committee and the Monument Mountain Building Project.

“Total project Costs” for the 6 alternatives range from $114,000,000 to $183,000,000 with Commonwealth contribution ranging from $0 — $53,000,000. At the high end that would net $130,000.000 in cost for a new school divided between three towns — West Stockbridge, Stockbridge, and Great Barrington.

For comparison purposes, there are two additional screen shots of cost estimated during the Regional School District Planning Board (RSDPB) presentations in November 2023. As you can see, the costs jumped and more than doubled in that brief time — from an estimated $90,000,000 (for a new school without the merger) to the high of $183,000,000.

Comparisons for cost per student:

Building a new school vs. placing Stockbridge high school students in extant schools

Based upon estimates, the low is $114million for repairing current building and with no contribution from the Commonwealth, and the high of $183million for construction of new building with estimated $53million contribution from the Commonwealth. According to the signed Regional Agreement, the Stockbridge obligation for the cost of construction is roughly 1/3. It can change based on aggregate real estate values, Equalized Values (EQV), in all three towns. Based on that, the Stockbridge obligation would range from $38,000,000 — $43,000,000.

Flowers

3. Repairs to the Civil War Monument were proposed to the Community Preservation Committee in March 2021 by Michael Canales, Town Administrator (SU, March 2021). Canales, on behalf of the Select Board, submitted a proposal for restoration of the Civil War Monument at an estimated cost $135,000. The repairs are now complete. The Monument looks wonderful and the plantings are very pretty. Let’s remember, it was strongly recommended that wear and tear on the base of the monument was accelerated by plantings around the base which were routinely watered. Let’s plant further away. Early photographs show a small, decorative iron fence perhaps a foot from the base with no plantings inside that periphery. Let’s respect that and protect our monument.

Stockbridge Updates in on TV!

4. Stockbridge Updates in on TV! We are ready for our close-up on CTSB—you can watch on CTSBTV.org or on Youtube. Here are the first three episodes. We are telling stories.

Launch/Solo Creatives: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TMpew3eSW0&t=583s

July 1 issue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0KmnuCSh8E&t=1007s

July 15 issue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a49bYHxfAUQ

News

Notes from the Stockbridge Bowl Stewardship Commission, June 17, 2024, Hybrid Meeting

1. The group discussed forming “actionable goals”

2. Charles Kenny, Chair, Board of Health (BOH), presented a report on cyanobacteria. 

fa. The first two steps are to observe the visible scum (or slick) and test. 

b. If it is cyanobacteria, then the Commonwealth requires the BOH to close the lake until toxins dissipate.

c. Kenny also had a suggestion for closing only the portion of the lake affected by the cyanobacteria bloom. The suggestion is being considered and a feasibility grant may be applied for.

d. Climate change is raising the water temperature and creating changes that may result in more blooms

e. Trained observers may be employed

3. Dredging is very important — many years in discussion and still no dredging. SBSC will ask for a progress report.

News

Notes from the Board of Assessors, July 1, 2024, Hybrid Meeting

1. Assessor Michael Bay discussed the new GIS site. 

2. The new Equalized value (EQV) prepared by DOR

3. Board of Assessors member Doug Goudey pointed out the importance of the EQV and its impact on Stockbridge’s share of school construction costs.

Brief meeting — adjourned.

Editor’s notes: 

1. MassGIS Data: Municipalities is the representation of Massachusetts’ municipal (city and town) boundaries; this representation is based on the legislatively approved record of municipal boundaries. At the site, you can also look up an individual property. MassGIS regularly makes corrections or refinements to this data layer as information becomes available. Here is the link to visit https://www.axisgis.com/StockbridgeMA/

2. Equalized Valuations (EQV) is the determination of the estimated full and fair cash value (FFCV) of all property in the Commonwealth as of a certain taxable date. The Commissioner of Revenue, in accordance with MGL Ch. 58 Section 10C, is charged with the responsibility of biennially determining an equalized valuation for each city and town in the Commonwealth. The resulting final figures for your municipality appear on Form LA-19.

Historically, EQVs have been used as a variable in distributing some Commonwealth aid accounts and for determining county assessments and other costs

Relationship to Cost of School Construction

These EQVs will be used as a basis of comparison among the 351 municipalities within the Commonwealth for certain Commonwealth and local purposes. Specifically, EQV is used in the allocation of aid to public libraries, in the calculation of Chapter 70 funding (Commonwealth aid to public elementary and secondary schools), and in the reimbursement rate of school construction projects.

News

Notes from the Planning Board (PB), July 2, 2024, Hybrid Meeting

1. Jan Ackerman, Vice Chair Affordable Housing Trust (AHT) reported on AHT activities.

a. Acquisition and use of donated land on Glendale Middle Road. AHT plans to seek assistance from Commonwealth planning professionals and to apply for planning grants. 

b. Currently there is a second survey to determine the exact boundaries of the parcel.

c. Determining cost of the infrastructure which would vary with number and style of housing.

d. Final decisions about the number of units or the style — single family, apartments, or condos — have not been made. However, Patrick White, Select Board and AHT Board member, said he was on record as preferring a small number of single-family dwellings — perhaps 6-8.

e. Technically “affordable housing” means subsidized housing.

f. AHT does not have sufficient funds to develop the land so a public/private partnership, public funding, or other funding method would have to be developed and agreed upon.

There was a public comment period. Those who spoke were opposed to density, supportive of maintaining the character of the neighborhood. They were also in favor of mixed use.

2. AHT also reported on the Production Plan draft which is available online for comments.

3. There was a brief discussion of the Commonwealth’s ADU law that, if passed, will override local zoning bylaws related to ADUs and be by right.

4. Chair Kate Fetcher suggested a new schedule wherein PB meets as needed. Permit requests would be reviewed in a timely manner according to the law, but PB would not meet otherwise. Nancy Sosha asked if they were going to meet to review bylaws or take up other matters in the purview of the PB. Apparently not. The Chair’s suggestion was to meet as needed (Based on submissions for permits).

News

Notes from the Conservation Commission (ConCom), July 9, 2024, Hybrid Meeting

1. Clear cutting is becoming a persistent and alarming issue. Several properties were mentioned. Clear cutting an area over 10,000 sq, ft. or close to a wetland requires a permit from ConCom. Wetlands and storm water run-off are under the jurisdiction of ConCom. However, that legally required step is being ignored. Moreover, land is being clear cut for the purpose of selling. The seller, not the end-user, is the one cutting. 

2. There was a discussion about what ConCom can do to enforce bylaws and penalize those who flout them. 

3. The Agriculture and Forestry Commission event is now scheduled for October 19, 2024

4. Kate Fletcher brought up an email from Patrick White purporting a $2million dredging of Lily Brook or Lily Pond. White was referring to the proposed dredging of Stockbridge Bowl which is fed by Lily Pond and Lily Brook

News

Notes from the ongoing Fire/EMS meetings, July 10, 2024, Hybrid Meeting

From Fire Chiefs & Town Administrators of Stockbridge, West Stockbridge, and Richmond

Exploring a Unified Fire and EMS Future

On Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at 1:00 PM, a pivotal meeting took place at the West Stockbridge Town Hall. The towns of Stockbridge, West Stockbridge, and Richmond convened to discuss the future of Fire and EMS Services for the three towns.

This preliminary idea seeks to improve the safety and efficiency of emergency services throughout the region. It proposes the implementation of a full-time, 24/7 career staff of Firefighter EMTs to deliver enhanced emergency medical and initial fire response. The specific implementation across the three communities will be examined in the coming months.

Central to this initiative is the recognition of the invaluable role played by the three existing Volunteer Fire Departments. These departments would maintain their identities, ensuring continuity, local engagement, and a deep-rooted sense of community pride. The volunteers have always been the backbone of our emergency services, offering their time, skills, and dedication to protect our towns. Their contributions are irreplaceable, and the new model seeks to build upon their efforts, providing additional support without diminishing their vital role.

This initiative represents a proactive approach to the challenges faced by our emergency services. While current services are adequate for the needs of residents and visitors, changing dynamics necessitate forward-thinking solutions. Volunteerism will continue to decline and call volumes will increase. By working together, the towns are taking steps to ensure robust and reliable emergency response capabilities.

The preliminary idea is just a beginning. As discussions progress, the specifics of this plan will evolve, with future meetings dedicated to addressing each component in detail. The next scheduled meeting is set for Thursday, August 22, 2024, at 6:00 PM at the West Stockbridge Town Hall. A Zoom link will be provided closer to the date for those who wish to participate remotely.

This idea is more than just a plan — it’s a vision for a safer, more connected community. By working together, pooling resources and expertise the towns of Stockbridge, West Stockbridge, and Richmond can build a stronger, more resilient emergency services framework. The potential for enhanced collaboration and improved response times is important, promising a brighter future for all residents and visitors.

Stay tuned for updates and join us in this exciting journey. Together, we can create a safer, stronger community.

Editor’s Note: Thank you. In a town where the median age is 63, the response time of EMTs can mean the difference between life and death. Stockbridge Updates appreciates your efforts on our behalf.

Analysis

Events

Lloyd Burlingame

1. Art Exhibition “Summer Energy: Works 1962 — 1987 — Featuring the works of Lloyd Burlingame” — July 9 — August 26, 2024, at the former Shantz Gallery — 3 Elm Street, Stockbridge, MA 

Lloyd Burlingame (b. 1934) began his career as a designer for theater legends including Franco Zeffirelli, Peter Brook, and David Merrick, then joining New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts as Chair of Design and Master Teacher for twenty-six years — eighteen of them legally blind. Facing irreversible vision loss in his 40s, Burlingame turned his attention to large-scale abstract paintings and multimedia fabric collages. This period of “making art while the sun shines” resulted in 72 major paintings and multimedia works, many of which are displayed in this exhibition. 

Stockbridge Farmers’ Market

2. The Stockbridge Farmers’ Market is coming! Wednesday, July 24, 2024, 3pm — 6pm. 

There will be a wide variety of organic produce — from Berkshire Mountain Bakery, Adobe Farm, Gaetanos Farm, and Millbrook Sugar House. There will be Medicinals and much more. SNAP recipients can obtain Market double-match tokens at the Market desk. The tokens can be used at all vendors.

Tanglewood Music Fellows at Chesterwood

3. Chesterwood to host the Tanglewood Music Fellows in the historic Studio on Wednesday, July 17 at 5:30 p.m. The program will be “Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight.” The concert is free.

Margaret Cherin, Senior Site Manager, Chesterwood, a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, announces a first time ever partnership with the Tanglewood Learning Institute. The program will be “Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight: A Cantata of Lamentation for Mezzo-Soprano, Violin, Cello and Piano,” a chamber piece based on a 1914 poem by American poet Vachel Lindsay. It portrays Abraham Lincoln walking the streets of Springfield, Illinois, stirred from his eternal sleep, a man, who even in death, is burdened by the tragedies of the modern world. The poem was set to music in 1953 by American composer Roy Ellsworth Harris (1898 — 1979) who wrote music on many American subjects and is best known for his Symphony No. 3. “Being the place where the iconic seated Lincoln for the Lincoln Memorial was created, it is very fitting to present a Lincoln related musical program under the gaze of the six-foot Lincoln model in the historic Studio,” said interim director Michael Lynch, “we have discovered that the acoustics are excellent in the Studio so this partnership with Tanglewood is a very exciting step up in our public programming.” 

Seating is limited and reservations are required at www.chesterwood.org/arts-alive-2024

Austen Riggs Exhibition

4. Exhibition presented by Austen Riggs, Thursdays — Saturdays June 29 — October 14, 2024 10am. — 4pm. 48 Main Street, Stockbridge

“Painting Belonging: Community Art in the Berkshires” features art by community groups, this exhibition reflects the ideas of belonging and community while looking at the impact of art and mental health throughout people’s lives.

New Feature

Statehouse Updates

NEW FEATURE!!!

Statehouse Updates

Editor’s note: What they are up to in Boston affects us here in our village. Therefore, as a complement to From the Desk of State Senator Paul Mark, Stockbridge Updates is adding a new column: Statehouse Updates. Let’s keep an eye on what’s coming down The Pike. 

The inaugural column is by Christine Rasmussen. Christine has an eagle-eye when it comes to all-things government. See her note to SU in Reader to Reader. I think we will be hearing more from her in Statehouse Updates. 

Beacon Hill’s Impact on Land Use and Local Control 

By Christine Rasumussen

Zillow says that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’s average home prices are among the country’s highest. Stockbridge’s average selling price is $729,856, a significant increase from $697,619 a year ago. Young families struggle to find affordable housing.

According to Boston, all municipalities must adhere to Commonwealth zoning laws that have not been significantly upgraded throughout the last century, leading to a housing shortage and a lack of housing options. 

Recognizing this problem, Governor Charlie Baker enacted the first significant zoning reform in decades by signing legislation reducing from two-thirds to a simple majority of Town Meeting voters to approve bylaws/amendments and special permit requirements that increase housing density in certain situations. However, it also contained a controversial provision that requires 177 municipalities that are served by the Metro-Boston Transportation Authority (MBTA) to create a special zoning district for multi-family housing within a half mile of the station, even if there is not the infrastructure or school capacity to support the increased housing density. Not complying can mean the loss of significant funds from Commonwealth programs. In a highly watched case, the Supreme Judicial Court will determine the legality of these requirements this fall.

The Housing Bond Bill

By Christine Rasumussen

When Governor Maura Healy assumed office, she introduced a Housing Bond Bill that she said would fund or enable the creation of more than 40,000 homes, including 22,000 new homes for low-income households and 12,000 new homes for middle-income households. In addition, the bill would preserve, rehabilitate, or make resilience improvements to 12,000 homes for low-income households, support more than 11,000 moderate-income households, and fund accessibility improvements for 4,500 homes. After being amended, the legislation passed in the House of Representatives at a cost of $6.5 billion and the Senate at $5.4 billion in June. Now, a Conference Committee of three members from each branch of the legislature will develop a final bill that needs to be approved and reach the Governor’s desk by July 31. Senator Paul Mark secured passage of an amendment in this legislation, which includes Berkshire County municipalities with more than 40 percent seasonal housing units in a special designation known as “seasonal communities.” providing housing benefits to year-round residents, including many town employees and first responders.

These actions show a building movement to address housing needs in positive ways. Yet, local control is fragile, and active participation in developing local needs is essential for our legislative delegation to bring our concerns to Boston. 

The Final Word

Reader to Reader

To Stockbridge Updates

Earlier today [July 10] the old bridge over the Stockbridge Bowl waterfall was removed and the new one installed. Looks great! I’d like to thank the Select Board, Town Administrator and Town Highway Department for taking care of this and restoring full access to this great corner of our Town. 

Much appreciated, 

Don Chabon

Carole, 

I think each paragraph below could be its own article [see inaugural column of Statehouse Updates].

I might follow with a piece on the loss of local control and another on the Housing Bond bill. There is also an economic bond bill and the infrastructure bond bill that are all supposed to be passed before the July 31 deadline. The infrastructure bill takes local control of the siting of large facilities away from local government. 

Christine Rasmussen

Christine, 

Thank you, we agree. The loss of local control, the takeover of zoning by the Commonwealth, is a new and not a welcome trend in Boston.

Carole

To the Editor:

I’m appalled about the projected cost of a new school (up to $183,000,000). Even worse it would be for 400 students — fewer than 50 of whom are from Stockbridge. That number is projected to decrease over the next several years. 

I read on the front page of the Eagle that they are constructing 9 buildings — a car wash, Starbucks, two inns, two affordable housing projects with multiple dwellings, plus two auto dealerships and a public safety building — for $160,000,000. How is that possible? Why would one school be $20,000,000 more? Who in their right mind would vote for this?

Michael Roisman

To the Editor

Local Endorsements of Patrick White Berkshire 3rd

My name is Bridget Provost and I serve as Patrick White’s campaign manager. Below are exerpts from local leaders endorsing Patrick White for Berkshire 3rd.

Warmly,

Bridget Provost

“The other four towns, every one of them declined to meet with us we wanted to meet in public so people would have a better understanding of what was going on, there was one Select Board member out of all of those towns that made the effort to bring us together, call all available Select Boards and say let’s just have a conversation. There was only one person who did that and that was Patrick White. One Select Board member, plus the 3 Select Board members in Lee on an issue thats so important to every single resident of the river corridor and he was the only guy that made the effort. And I want to thank him for that and I know that he can see beyond the borders of his own town. He’s everywhere, he’s on top of the issues, he’s experienced, and again I’m proud to endorse him and I hope you will be voting for Patrick in this year’s election.”

Bob Jones/Lee Select Board

“I endorse Patrick White for Berkshire 3rd. We wish him the best of luck. Patrick and I worked on a number of issues together and hope to continue to do that with him still.”

Sean Regnier/Lee Select Board

“I sent a petition signed by 2,000 residents protesting the Housatonic Water Works to all the Select Boards in the 3 towns affected as well as to the Governor, Attorney General, the Department of Public Utilities, and the Department of Environmental Protection. Only one person responded and that was Patrick White, Chair of the Stockbridge Select Board.”

Sharon Gregory, former Chair of the Great Barrington Finance Committee

“I would say that Patrick is hardworking, smart, and one of the most productive people I know. A good listener, he would make a fantastic representative for all the people.”

Laura Dubester (Stockbridge), Chair of Stockbridge Green Communities Committee and former Executive Director, The Center for Environment Technology (CET)

“I just want to say it’s been great knowing Patrick and working on this issue of climate change. I know Patrick will be a key leader at the State House. He will address and really find solutions to the climate problem. Patrick I know you’re going to keep us going. Thank you.”

Steve Cowell (Tyringham), CEO of Conservation Services Group and founder, MassSave

Disclosure to my readers: 

“Journalism is a profession protected by the same First Amendment that grants to all citizens the right to run for office or to support, by word, deed or cash, the people they would like to see elected” — Society of Professional Journalists

Notwithstanding, I am writing as an individual. I support Patrick White in his run for State Representative of Berkshire 3rd. I’ve known Patrick a long time and worked with him. I know the quality of his work. 

It’s been 40 years since the last member of the General Court came from Stockbridge — he was my neighbor, Jack Fitzpatrick. Let’s send another representative down “the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston.”

Carole Owens