Great Barrington Planning Board Meeting - May 28, 2026

The Great Barrington Planning Board convened on May 28, 2026, to review the draft Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP). The board discussed the plan's structure, action items, and public feedback, along with providing updates on other town projects.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes from the May 14th meeting were approved by a motion and second with no discussion.
• Roll call attendance: Members present included Pedro Chana, Jonathan Hankin, Chucky Kane, and Brandy Nelson. Jeremy was absent but joined virtually later.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No citizens spoke during the designated public comment period at the end of the meeting.
• During the OSRP discussion, Vivian spoke in support of the agricultural focus, emphasizing the challenges of fertilizer shortages and the importance of local food production, noting Massachusetts only produces 15% of its food needs.
• Ileen offered to help edit the plan and asked for confirmation of the June 20th public comment deadline.
• Jeremy, joining virtually, stated he would submit comments via email.

Discussion Items

1. Draft Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) Review

• Presenters: Seth (consultant) and Chris (town staff).
• Structure & Purpose: Seth explained the OSRP is structured to meet state requirements for grant eligibility. The priority system reflects implementation timelines (High: 1-3 years, Medium: 4-6 years, Low: 7-10 years).
• Endorsements: The Conservation Commission voted to endorse the plan. The Fire Department also submitted a letter of support, citing potential benefits for training, conservation, and economic development on East Mountain.
• Board Feedback:
  • Pedro Chana expressed a desire for greater emphasis on the economic potential of open spaces and suggested creating a public-facing summary of the plan.
  • Brandy Nelson noted overlaps with existing plans (ADA, Growing Better Great Barrington) and suggested integrating them better. She recommended sharing the recreation map via QR codes linking to the county-wide Berkshire Outside platform and promoting public-private partnerships for maintenance.
  • Jackie conducted a deep dive into the Action Plan. She found Goal 1 (Agriculture) lacked high-priority items and specific actions (e.g., food hubs, slaughterhouses) compared to the detailed Goal 2 (Linkages). She suggested adding more concrete actions to Goal 1. She also noted the omission of Busatonic Flats and pointed out formatting inconsistencies in Goal 5.
  • Jonathan Hankin emphasized the need for outreach and a user-friendly town website to effectively 'promote' the plan's goals, noting a disconnect between the plan's outreach goals and the website's architecture. He also raised the point that priorities should be reassessed annually.
• Seth's Response: Seth acknowledged the feedback, agreed to strengthen Goal 1 with high-priority actions, fix formatting, and add a bibliography referencing related town plans. He clarified the state review process.

2. Main Street Tree Protection Update

• Jonathan Hankin updated the board on concerns from Main Street residents regarding a development project.
• Citizens reported that the developer promised to have an arborist on site to protect trees, including their root systems, as required by the building inspector. Despite construction beginning, the arborist has not been present, and roots have been cut.
• Residents are worried that trenching for sewer connections will damage the root systems of trees protected under the special permit. The board acknowledged the concern and noted that staff are monitoring the situation.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes Approved: The minutes from the May 14, 2026, meeting were approved.
• OSRP Revisions: The board directed staff and the consultant to incorporate feedback, specifically: strengthening the Agriculture section (Goal 1) with high-priority action items, improving cross-referencing with other town plans, and ensuring accessibility formatting standards are met.
• Timeline: The public comment period for the OSRP will remain open until June 20, 2026. The state review is expected in the fall.
• Next Steps: The board will present the OSRP to the Select Board on June 1, 2026. A final review and vote on the plan is scheduled for the June 11, 2026 planning board meeting.
• Tree Monitoring: Staff will continue to monitor the Main Street project for compliance with tree protection requirements.