Planners approve 2 business expansions

PITTSFIELD – The Pittsfield Planning Board Monday night unanimously approved the expansion of two local businesses, Gordon Construction and A.J. Fabrication.

Lawrence Morton of A.J. Fabrication explained that he had recently sold his property to Cianbro’s fabrication shop and he wished to relocate his business about a half-mile east on Route 69 to the former Sinclair Crane shop.

Morton said he will be cleaning up the property and doing some cosmetic work on the exterior.

Mathys Van Dam, the town’s code enforcement officer, told the board that the building was structurally sound and would be a safer location than Morton’s previous site. He explained that the building was nonconforming because it is too close to the road.

Pittsfield’s ordinances require any change of use of a nonconforming structure to come before the planning board.

Gordon Construction of Hartland Avenue is located in a residential area and is considered to have a nonconforming use. The company received approval to construct a three-sided building to house trucks and equipment.

The board also went into a lengthy executive session to discuss development of the town’s speculation building in the Industrial Park.

The building has a possible buyer, according to Town Manager D. Dwight Dogherty, but it needs to be completed before a sale can be accomplished.

Constructed with state grant funds in 1991, the building has no floor or loading dock. An executive session was required to protect the identity of the possible buyer and sale negotiations. As of press time, the board was still in executive session.