Lee Planning Board continues hotel hearing to July 27

Planning Board · Meeting of July 13, 2026

Lee Planning Board pushes hotel special permit hearing to July 27 amid zoning dispute. The board voted 4-0 to continue review of a four-story, 74-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott proposed for 165 Housatonic Street, after abutter Marilyn argued the developer's site plan misplaces the town's zoning-district line by roughly 40 feet, effectively doubling the commercial area available for parking. Engineer Brian Sider said the project generates only about 600 new vehicle trips, under the state's 3,000-trip threshold for a full MEPA review.

Jacob's Pillow program director Holly Jones testified the arts organization spends "roughly $600,000 annually on hotels in the Berkshires" it can't book in Lee. The board also endorsed, 4-0, a Form A subdivision for a Maple Creek Road lot with an accessory dwelling unit, and set a site visit and balloon test for July 20 at 5 p.m. Separately, the town planner said a consolidated clean-energy bylaw covering solar, battery storage and wind must be adopted before an October 1 state deadline, likely requiring a special town meeting in late September.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
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• The complete report — 3,440 words

Source: the Planning Board meeting of July 13, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.