Pittsfield homeless shelter hearing tabled again

By Amanda Burke , The Berkshire Eagle

PITTSFIELD — While ServiceNet worries about securing a new space before the weather turns, the Community Development Board on Tuesday again continued a public hearing about its proposal to open a shelter at the Methodist Church, as formally requested by an attorney representing several abutting businesses.

"There's a lot of anxiety here at our shelter and among our staff about what we're going to do come October or November if we haven't created more space," said ServiceNet Senior Vice President Jay Sacchetti told members.

Pittsfield homeless shelter hearing tabled again The Community Development Board agreed they needed more time to review First United Methodist Church's response to a list of questions they provided before voting on their special permit request, City Planner Cornelius Hoss said Wednesday.

Elton Ogden, president of the Berkshire Housing Development Corporation, said during the meeting that a shelter is a residential use and therefore allowed in the Arts Overlay District. The proposal would allow SeviceNet to relocate Barton's Crossing, enjoys broad support in the community and would secure the economic viability of the church, which would lease space to ServiceNet.

"A vast majority of people recognize downtown is not just for businesses, it's really for everyone, and that includes the people that the ServiceNet shelter serves," said Ogden. The 55 Fenn St. church is "ideally suited" for shelter guests as it's close to health and human services agencies and needs "only modest changes and improvements," keeping renovation costs down, Ogden added.

The city received 27 voicemails and 30 to 40 emails and letters from supporters of the project, according to Hoss, who also noted an online petition in favor of it that as of Wednesday afternoon had garnered 1,845 signatures.

Branden Huldeen, president of Downtown Pittsfield Inc., said its members include organizations proposing the shelter as well as "businesses and property owners that have concerns about the shelter project that have not yet been addressed to their satisfaction."

Jesse Cook-Dubin, who served as president of Downtown Pittsfield Inc. until May, sent a letter on behalf of "most of the neighbors located within 300 feet of First United Methodist Church" to Hoss before the meeting Tuesday requesting the board delay a vote on the proposal until the applicants answered the board's questions. On Wednesday, the Rev. Ralph Howe said detailed answers to the questions were submitted Tuesday afternoon. He said the board's questions were not provided until late last week, though Hoss said they were provided one week in advance.

The owners of Allegrone Companies, B&G Restaurant Supply, Barrington Stage Company, CT Management, King Kone, Lombardi, Clairmont & Keegan, Ann Moore, the Shipton Building and Hotel on North signed onto the letter sent by Cook-Dubin. The public hearing was continued to September 2.