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North Adams City Council Approves Blackinton Mill Easement
By Jack Guerino, iBerkshires Staff
03:22AM / Wednesday, November 11, 2015
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The mill can be seen on the other side of the river; the developers of the Redwood Motel want to create better access to the river.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council has approved an easement agreement with the Redwood Motel developers that would give them use of city-owned land around the Blackinton Mill in exchange for $18,800.

Eric Kerns, project manager representing Blackinton Mill LLC, told the council Tuesday that the project now encompasses nearly 30 acres including the State Road motel, along the Hoosic River, and under the train tracks to the Blackinton Mill on Massachusetts Avenue.

Kerns said the proposed green area connecting the motel to the mill will have walking paths, meeting areas, river access, and possibly a portion of the planned Mohawk Bike Trail.

Mayor Richard Alcombright said the amount the city will receive is $600 more than the assessed value of the land and the easement will provide the developers with parking and access needed for the purchase of the mill.

"It speaks to our natural resources, our environment, and recreation, and it is very cool to have one piece or parking lot point of access that is important for the project," Alcombright said. "I think this is a good way the city can contribute."

Kerns said the easement will allow them to move the cars from the parking area in the courtyard behind the mill to the new area. This opens up room to do some landscaping and create a usable courtyard. The current owners of the mill had also planned to use that section off Ashton Avenue as a main entrance.

"What we want to do first is ... remove that kind of ghost town look that it has from the curb and completely clear all of the brush and junk out of the corner lot," Kerns said. "We want to spruce up the front of the building and create a nicer environment for the existing tenants."

Some of this work will begin in three weeks when the sale of the mill closes.

He added that because the immediate focus is the motel, much of the mill and green space work will develop as they explore opportunities.  

In addition to the mill, Kerns said they also purchased an old mill house next to it that provides them with more land. The house may be used to host Appalachian Trail hikers.

Councilor Eric Buddington was the only no vote from the councilors, saying he felt the city should sell the property instead of getting wrapped up in a complicated legal agreement.

"I am very uncomfortable having an easement when we could have a simple sale because with the easement, the city retains liability," Buddington said. "It is a complicated legal document that I am concerned I don't fully understand. ... I feel the city has an interest in shedding excess property entirely and not holding on to special control."

City Solicitor John DeRosa explained that an easement is more consistent with the use the developers want, and allows the city to maintain some control since much of the future development is unknown.

Buddington also asked if the land was contaminated because the city would retain liability.

The mayor said the property has been largely remediated and it is not a large concern. The city is seeking funds to continue clean up.   

In other business, the City Council issued a secondhand license to Odds & Ends, a business on Eagle Street belonging to Eric Perry.

The council initially hesitated to approve the license because of concerns over the safety of the building, the condition of another building on the property, excessive tag sales held on the property, and issues with a shared driveway.

However, Building Inspector William Meranti said he had no concerns and many of these issues were place in conditions the Planning Board issued to Perry when it approved the business.  

He added that some of the other complaints, such as the tag sales, have stopped, the building in the back of the property will not be accessed by the public, and the property has been cleaned out entirely.

Once the business opens, he added, the city can make sure the conditions are followed.

Also approved was the application of a new taxi business in town, RJ Taxi, and two drivers.

Although the business was approved by the Planning Board and the police signed off on the two drivers, Councilor Keith Bona said he was concerned over their applications because he had read one driver did not know if he had any felonies and the other had been convicted of conspiracy to violate drug laws some years ago.

"This raises a red flag, but does not mean anything," Bona said. "If anyone had a past crime it does not mean they should not be able to own a business, but I am just bringing that to our attention because this is something that we do not normally see."  

The council appointed Michelle Martinez to serve on the Housing Authority Board to fill the unexpired term of Darrell Clermont and set a public hearing Tuesday, Nov. 24, to set the tax rates.

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