Drainage Concerns Addressed

By Andy McKeever
iBerkshires Staff
10:01AM / Wednesday, July 13, 2011

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Engineers planning the new Youth Center revised the site plans to send more runoff toward School Street.

The center, planned to be built on elementary school land, faced drainage concerns from both the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals but the engineers have addressed those issues and the permitting process is back on track.

Charlie LaBatt, an engineer with Guntlow Associates who is planning the project, returned to the Planning Board on Tuesday with updated plans that redirects more of the drainage toward School Street.

“We felt we have a great plan to make everybody happy,” LaBatt told the board. “This includes some of the storm water going south to School Street and we increased the size of the retention areas.”

While most of the drainage will still go toward Church Street to the north, the new plan slopes the building’s roof to push more of that runoff toward the south.

With the change of plans, the center had to return to the board for another approval.

“I don’t know how we can do anything other than approve it again,” Chairman Pat Dunlavey said. “I’m pleased and grateful that you came back with the changes you did.”

Previously, Chris Winters, who owns land on Church Street, raised concerns about the current water flow toward his property.

The complaint was first addressed to the Planning Board but the members said they did not have the purview to demand the changes. The board approved the plans but vocally said they would prefer changes that improve the drainage. The Zoning Board of Appeals tabled the discussion and asked the engineers to attempt to address the concerns.