North Adams Conservation Commission OK's Initial Phase of Redwood RedoBy Tammy Daniels, iBerkshires Staff
12:11AM / Tuesday, January 12, 2016 | |
 Fred Sears of Hill Engineering displays a map of wetlands areas near the Redwood Motel. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Preliminary work on the Redwood Motel renovation can begin as long as the project stays out of the accepted delineation of wetlands.
The renovation will involve taking down some of the motor court's buildings near Route 2 and building around 30 more rooms in similar single-story buildings parallel to the Hoosic River. The project is being undertaken by The Beyond Place LLC.
Conservation Commission Chairman Jason Moran said he had suggested the project's representatives apply for a request for determination to give the board a chance to see the outlined area before winter weather sets in.
Project representative Eric Kerns told the commission on Monday that the initial work will not be near the wetlands or the river bank, although future plans envision some changes there. Most of the work will be on flats above the steep incline to the river.
"It's this beautiful cottonwood forest down there. We're hoping to put some trails down there and the trails that are maintained by Fish & Game," he said. "We've been in this seven-month process talking with [the state] Fish & Game about either doing a land swap with land from the inner side near the water and perhaps a series of easements."
The project is considering a 2-foot wide suspension cable footbridge across the river to the Blackinton Mill property the principals of The Beyond Place purchased in November, but will come back before the commission for that.
"We're just looking to make sure as we proceed with the design that we're good to go with these upper areas," Kerns said.
Frederick Sears of Hill Engineers pointed out the delineated wetlands areas as determined by his company. The first phase of the renovation will be demolition and design; the new structures are expected to accessed from the level area but will look out over the banking on the other side.
Commissioners reminded Kerns and Sears that addition of impervious surfaces — roofs and paving — will require a stormwater management system and likely mitigation to offset the hard surfaces.
"It's a highly sensitive area for a number of reasons," said Moran.
It was recommended that the developers ensure the delineated area was visibly flagged to prevent any accidental incursion.
Commissioner Andrew J. Kawczak believed the proper determination would be that the wetland boundary delineations "are confirmed as accurate."
Kerns said he would be back before the commission as the plans developed.
A second request for determination before the commission had to be postponed because of lack of members.
The city is planning a volleyball sand court at Windsor Lake that will come within 160 feet of wetlands area. The court has been proposed for several years and is being sponsored in part by a donation from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' Sam Gomez Race.
No one from the city was available to present the project and not enough members were there for Timothy Lescarbeau, the city's commissioner of public services, to step off the commission to do it. Building Inspector William Meranti requested the postponement on behalf of the city.
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