Lenox Affordable Housing Trust Tables Seasonal Communities Work, Turns to Land Search

LENOX — March 24, 2026 — Lenox Affordable Housing Trust tables seasonal communities work and redirects focus to land and vacant properties. The board voted 5-0-1 to approve its March 10 minutes — with one member abstaining due to absence — before reaching consensus to table agenda items related to the state's seasonal communities law, deferring to a one-stop grant the Select Board recently submitted to Berkshire Regional Planning Commission to study the question; results are not expected before a 2027 town meeting. The chair said he would "not fight" the delay and would not pursue a citizen petition to force the issue. One member volunteered to review assessor maps to identify buildable land along the Massachusetts Turnpike corridor between the West Stockbridge and Lee town lines, where land prices are lower. Members also discussed whether the three fire stations scheduled to be vacated when a new consolidated facility opens could be converted to affordable rental housing, and agreed to consult Town Counsel on whether property donations to the trust can be structured to yield a charitable tax deduction for donors.