Lee panel continues hotel hearing, approves railroad spray permit

Conservation · Meeting of June 17, 2026

Lee Conservation Commission continues contested Marriott hotel hearing amid abutter's denial request. Attorney Dennis E.G. Egan Jr., representing abutter Rakee Patel Trust, asked the board to deny Garden Management Incorporated's notice of intent for a four-story, 74-room, 11,577-square-foot hotel at 165 Housatonic Street, citing incomplete floodplain compensation data.

Civil engineer Brian Sider said the applicant is still awaiting comments from third-party peer reviewer David Cameron before revising its plans; the hearing was continued to July 1. The board separately approved, 3-1, a vegetation-management renewal for the Housatonic Railroad, with Tech Associates' Tom Lewis saying "we obviously don't spray around people" near wetlands and homes. Members also unanimously cleared a 240-foot beach railing for Berkshire Hills Leisure Lea after finding the state Scenic Mountains Act did not apply.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,534 words

Source: the Conservation meeting of June 17, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.