Planning Board flags thin agriculture goals in draft Open Space and Recreation Plan

LENOX — May 28, 2026 — Great Barrington Planning Board calls for stronger agricultural action steps in draft Open Space and Recreation Plan. The board spent the May 28 meeting reviewing the draft plan, which is in a 30-day public comment period ending June 20 and must receive state approval for the town to qualify for open-space grants. Member Jackie Cain found that Goal 1 — agriculture, the top-rated priority in community input sessions — contained no high-priority action items and lacked the specifics discussed at community forums, including food hubs and processing capacity. Consultant Seth, joining by Zoom, suggested adding high-priority actions to the goal and clarified that the state defines priority levels by timeline: high equals one to three years, medium equals four to six years, and low equals seven to ten years — a key the board asked be added to the document. The Conservation Commission endorsed the plan the previous evening; Select Board review is set for June 1. Public commenter Vivian cited American Farm Bureau Federation data showing 69 percent of northeast farmers are struggling to afford fertilizer, urging the board to frame its agricultural goals against that national backdrop.