Lanesborough Looking To Rezone Former Berkshire Mall

Something finally is going in a forward motion for the but forgotten Berkshire Mall. The town's Planning Board is looking to rezone the area of the former Berkshire Mall facility to accommodate all possible uses outlined in a building reuse study.

A large-scale, federally-funded study by Berkshire Regional Planning Commission completed in 2019 outlined five uses deemed most promising for the vacant complex: a destination sports facility; a family entertainment resort destination; a training and technology facility; senior care and transitional living, or a green agricultural facility.

As Being reported by Iberkshires.com. Town Planner Andrew Groff said.

"What we've done is taken their recommendations, and applied it to the structure of a major retail district, and allowed those uses to be permitted by the Planning Board, We're trying to get ahead of the economy and allow the property to be reused in a new fashion, whatever that form may be, and these five concepts we think represent the most probable methodologies of its reuse."

The Selectmen's role Monday was "largely ceremonial" in forwarding the proposal back to the Planning Board, which has 65 days to call a public hearing. which is already scheduled for April 20.

The Planning Board can then send it on to the annual town meeting, with their recommendation on whether or not to adopt it. The changes must be supported by residents at the town meeting by a two-thirds majority vote in order to be ratified.