Lenox ZBA Continues Elm Court Hearing to Oct. 7
Zoning Board · Meeting of September 16, 2026
Lenox Zoning Board grills Elm Court developers on fire flow, MEPA and permit vesting, takes no vote. Chair Robert Fuster Jr. pressed CEO Steve Benson's team on inadequate fire flow to the historic mansion's upper floors, and attorney Jonathan Silverstein argued the roughly $100 million hotel-and-38-home project doesn't trigger state MEPA review because it needs no state permit. Engineer Bill Gopp said the developer will pay for a new water main and sewer extension at no cost to Lenox, plus about $373,000 each in water and sewer connection fees.
Resident Michael Lucia warned that approving the plan as an amendment to a 2015 permit, rather than a new filing, would "grandfather in a non-expiring permit," citing Great Barrington's recent rescission of a similar permit. The board unanimously continued the hearing to October 7 and approved its August 19 minutes.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,352 words
Source: the Zoning Board meeting of September 16, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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