Planning board approves fire‑district pump house with lighting cut‑sheet and no‑commercial‑fill caveat

The Great Barrington Planning Board voted unanimously to approve a site plan for a new pump house to be built by the Great Barrington Fire District on Christian Hill Road that will allow an emergency interconnection with the Housatonic Water Works.

The board imposed two conditions on approval: the applicant must submit manufacturer cut sheets that show exterior lighting complies with the zoning bylaw’s Section 6 performance standards (including downward‑facing fixtures and an agreed 3,000 Kelvin color temperature), and the site‑plan approval shall not be construed as permission for a commercial water filling station, which would require a separate zoning action.

Why it matters: the structure is intended to provide emergency redundancy so the fire district can receive treated water from a neighboring supplier or supply water to the district in a contingency. Neighbors pressed the board for safeguards on noise, lighting, drainage and any future commercial use that could drive tanker traffic on narrow local roads.

Project scope and operations: presenters said the building will house pumps, the control equipment and a standby diesel generator; the heated/equipment area is small and the bathroom will use a pumped tight tank (not connected to municipal sewer). The district has installed sample taps at the station and left space for a dosing system so disinfection could be introduced on site if operators determine incoming water does not meet standards. Presenters described the interconnection as a backup — not a daily supply — and said the district has pursued wells and other sources to increase redundancy.

Generator and noise: project staff said the standby generator will be placed in a sound‑attenuated enclosure rated at 65 decibels at full load when measured 23 feet away, and that the unit would run only during loss‑of‑power events and brief exercise cycles (a few minutes every one to two weeks). "We specified for the generator to have a sound‑attenuated enclosure that is rated for 65 decibels at 100% load at 23 feet away," David (project representative) said.

Screening, lighting and grading: plans call for six staggered white spruce along the frontage to screen the building from Christian Hill Road; there will be chain‑link security fencing only around the generator. Exterior lighting was originally called out at 4,000 Kelvin, but project staff agreed to revise plans to 3,000 Kelvin, use downward‑facing fixtures and provide cut sheets and location elevations for the board’s record. Board staff and members emphasized compliance with the bylaw’s lighting standards to prevent glare and spill onto neighboring properties.

Commercial fill station and bid alternates: the project includes two bid alternates — the water main tie from Housatonic and an optional water fill station for commercial users. Presenters said the fill station is optional and could be omitted if costs are prohibitive. Residents raised concerns that a publicly advertised filling operation could cause frequent tanker trips on Christian Hill and over the Division Street bridge; the board’s approval explicitly stops short of authorizing a commercial filling station.

Public concerns and water quality: several residents urged caution about water quality and operational protocols if water is drawn from Housatonic. One commenter, a Housatonic customer, noted past treatment problems and asked how the board and district would ensure incoming water would not compromise local service. Project staff pointed to sampling taps, routine state‑required testing and the potential to add disinfectant dosing at the station if necessary.

Vote and next steps: the board approved the site plan subject to the two conditions and asked the applicant to return with lighting cut sheets and the specified documentation. The board chair announced the vote as unanimous. The applicant will supply the cut sheets and any supplementary documentation requested by staff for final plan compliance.