Great Barrington Planning Board Approves Contested Division Street Fence Permit 4-1

LENOX — March 26, 2026 — Great Barrington Planning Board approves six-foot privacy fence permit 4-1 over precedent objections. The board voted Thursday to grant a special permit to Brian and Marcy Bucciolato of 34 Division Street, allowing a six-foot solid front-yard fence in an R2 zone, conditioned on the installation of native plantings between the fence and the roadway. Member Jonathan cast the lone dissenting vote, arguing the structure would speed traffic on an already fast road and that the bylaw's special permit standard requires a demonstrable benefit to the town or neighborhood, not just to the individual household; member Malcolm raised similar concerns about precedent but ultimately voted in favor. Two neighbors — Michelle Lubert of 70 Division Street and Jenediah Shields of 53 Division Street — spoke in support, citing the road's traffic volume and the presence of young children. Town Planner Chris Rembold confirmed the board had previously granted one comparable fence permit, at the corner of Route 23 and Seekonk Cross Road, on headlight-intrusion grounds. The board spent the remainder of the meeting in a public working session on the Open Space and Recreation Plan, where a survey of 437 respondents showed hiking and rock climbing as the top recreational activities; the next working session is April 23 at 5 p.m.