[MassHistPres] Preservation success story for 18th century barn in Richmond [Berkshire Co.}

[edandrews at earthlink.net]

I have copied a very recent Berkshire Eagle article to this email about a
local preservation success story in Berkshire County. 

The building at issue is one of three remaining 18th cent. barns still
extant in Richmond [Berkshire Co.].  Two years ago, the barn was slated for
demolition by its new owners who had purchased the barn property for
re-development of a winery.  The new owners had decided that the barn was
too costly a burden to maintain.  However, its demolition was thwarted by
community pressure that included a statement from the Richmond Historical
Society opposing its destruction.  Preservation Massachusetts assisted with
this effort.

This month, the same owners have found the barn to be the key to their
winery’s survival as a business, and are investing in its restoration.

See the article below.  I have copied photos on to this email, but am not
sure whether they will transmit.  If not, I suggest that you try Googling
for this article.  You also may contact me offline, and I will email you the
article as a .pdf file.

Happy Holidays!

Edward Andrews

Shaker Farm

Richmond, Mass

 

Coming up rosés? Balderdash winery cleared for barn work to stage events

 

By Clarence Fanto, Berkshire Eagle correspondent

 

Dec 15, 2020

 <https://www.berkshireeagle.com/content/tncms/live/#1> 

 <https://www.berkshireeagle.com/content/tncms/live/#2> 

 

RICHMOND — Balderdash Cellars, the winery relocated from a Pittsfield
commercial building basement to a 25-acre farm just south of the city line,
near Richmond Pond, has won conditional approval from the Select Board to
renovate a deteriorated barn on the property to host events, primarily
indoors, including music.

As one of a mere handful of businesses in the rural town, Balderdash and its
owners, Christian and Donna Hanson, have been welcomed warmly by many
residents. But, some others, particularly residents of the nearby lake, have
objected to noise from outdoor entertainment events.

In addition to the barn, the property purchased in spring 2018 for $475,000
includes a new 5,000-square-foot, two-level tasting room/wine-making
facility that can hold 100 visitors, and a farmhouse with a basement
brewery. Hanson has explained his move to the bucolic setting by pointing
out that “people who come to this area often come from the city, and they
don’t want to go back to a city.”

In their own words ...

Additional comments from Richmond residents during the Select Board’s
discussion of a new special permit covering public events at the Balderdash
Cellars winery:

“I’m concerned that some of the restrictions are going to put Balderdash out
of business. They’re an incredible neighbor; they give a lot of goodwill to
Richmond. We need to allow people, within reason, to make a living and have
businesses in Richmond that produce taxes.”

— Susan Benner

***

“When the vineyard became a carnival-type of atmosphere, that’s how I
perceive it, because the noise affects not only my outside living, but my
inside living. You can actually feel the music internally.”

— Peter Miller

***

“It’s very tough these days to run a business, especially when people are
rooting against you. It would be a shame to see this go away just because of
a few people.”

— Dennis Lamke

***

“I’m one of the people who has been consistently reporting noise issues, and
we have always wanted Balderdash to succeed. We just don’t want it to impact
the way we use our properties; it has made me quite unhappy. I’m very
pleased to hear everyone is going to try a more active way to cooperate with
each other so everyone ends up happier."

— Alison Cole

>From the start, the owners also planned to use the spacious setting for
weddings and for family-friendly concerts on weekends.

At a recent Select Board virtual public hearing, many supporters and several
critics turned out to speak their mind as the board members reviewed a
proposed special permit for Primadonna LLC, Christian Hanson’s business.

The permit would combine the existing farm function bylaw for the property
with the plan for a retooled barn that would allow events there, including
performances, and minimize, if not eliminate, the noise bothering some
neighbors.

“We’re trying to be respectful of the neighborhood, the community and also
our business, to try to make sure we can put the two in harmony,” Hanson
explained.

He stated that weddings held in tents that “have generated a fair amount of
noise” would be eliminated. Instead, the renovated barn, dating from the
1700s, as well as the winery, would host all events.

“Our goal is to cease doing outdoor, noisy, tented events in the evening, a
win-win for all of us. It minimizes noise for farm functions and also
preserves a very historic building for the town.”

— Christian Hanson

“Our goal is to cease doing outdoor, noisy, tented events in the evening, a
win-win for all of us,” Hanson added. “It minimizes noise for farm functions
and also preserves a very historic building for the town.”

Select Board Chairman Alan Hanson, as well as members Roger Manzolini and
Neal Pilson, immediately voiced support for the plan as part of a new farm
functions special permit.

Town Counsel Elisabeth Goodman pointed out that all business activities at
Balderdash are subject to the farm functions permit, requiring conditions
based on a professional engineer’s noise study dealing with outdoor
amplified sound.

“It’s a complicated situation 
 with the noise issues last summer,” Pilson
acknowledged, while other residents view Balderdash as “an important asset
for the town and the community.”

The proposed new one-year permit, available for public review on the town
website and subject to annual review by the town, includes an “acoustical
curtain” and a limit to three musicians per event.

Other provisions include:

• Wine tastings and other public events, as well as private events such as
weddings and other celebrations, are to be held in the renovated barn or in
the existing outside amphitheater from noon to 8 p.m. daily, limited to 100
people per event. Larger events require a one-day special permit issued by
the Select Board.

• Outdoor amplified music would be limited to 89 decibels, measured no more
than 3 feet in front of speakers.

• A continuous, 180-degree acoustical curtain system, complying with the
noise study’s recommendation this past summer, would be installed behind the
musicians.

• All speakers and amplifiers would have to face west, away from Richmond
Pond and a neighboring property. Drums, bass guitars, electric guitars and
horns are prohibited, and exterior amplified music is banned after 7 p.m.

• Clapping would be permitted, but not “shouting, yelling, hooting or
whistling.”

>From the start, Balderdash Cellars owners Christian and Donna Hanson planned
to use a deteriorated barn on the property for family-friendly concerts on
weekends. The couple have received conditional approval for a retooled barn
that would allow events there, including performances, and minimize, if not
eliminate, the noise bothering some neighbors.

STEPHANIE ZOLLSHAN — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE

The proposed permit is designed to “find common ground and a way for
Balderdash to continue and prosper and to also address the concerns of some
of our residents who have been quite vocal in their comments about noise
that is disturbing to them,” said Pilson, who drafted the language with
Goodman.

“Everybody recognizes and has skin in the game towards making Balderdash a
quieter place, and the best way to accomplish that is the only thing that
needs to be resolved,” said Manzolini, a selectman since 1996.

During public comment, Richmond Shores resident Miles Garfinkel expressed
the hope that the new permit would “alleviate the impact on our community
and, hopefully, we’ll have a quiet summer, next year and beyond.”

"As a business owner, especially with what we’re going through right now,
the more restrictions we put on business, the harder it is for that business
to thrive. They strive to do things the right way, the best way they
possibly can. Try to make it as easy for them as you possibly can.”

—Cindy Bartlett, Bartlett’s Orchard co-owner 

Bartlett’s Orchard co-owner Cindy Bartlett stated that the Hansons “have the
community of Richmond at heart. As a business owner, especially with what
we’re going through right now, the more restrictions we put on business, the
harder it is for that business to thrive. They strive to do things the right
way, the best way they possibly can. Try to make it as easy for them as you
possibly can.”

A neighbor, Mark Lessner, said he “barely heard any noise at all” last
summer.

“From our perspective right next door, the music, the sound was absolutely
fine,” said new resident E.E. Winters. “It was always very soft, gentle,
pleasant. I welcome Balderdash being there, I think it’s terrific.”

Another nearby year-round resident, John Reynolds, said he could hear the
music, but “not in an obtrusive way; it’s not bothersome.” He said jet skis
and boats on Richmond Pond “are far worse than anything at Balderdash. We
want to voice our support for allowing outdoor music. We do not find it’s a
problem.”

“It’s a great place to go with family and friends, it’s classy, clean and
well-run,” said Jonathan Ballan. “The music’s not excessively loud. It’s a
fun place run by extremely nice, committed, community-oriented people, and
it’s a real credit to Richmond. I hope you don’t impose conditions that
really destroy the heart of what is a wonderful place.”

The Select Board will resume the public hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Meanwhile, as proposed by Manzolini, the board voted 3-0 to allow Christian
Hanson to begin designing the barn renovation by including it under the
terms of the farm function permit.

“There’s no one on the planet Earth who doesn’t want that renovated,”
Manzolini said.

Clarence Fanto can be reached at  <mailto:cfanto at yahoo.com>
cfanto at yahoo.com, on Twitter

@BE_cfanto or at 413-637-2551.

 

 

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