State's Final Greylock Glen Plan Says No Trams and Vistas Must Be Protected

The state has released its final master plan for Greylock Glen, incorporating a number of revisions proposed by environmentalist groups, such as limiting the amount of indoor space allowed, and promising long-term wildlife protections and a prohibition against a golf course.
But the revisions do not fundamentally alter the plan, which divides the 1,063-acre site at the foot of Mount Greylock into three zones with varying degrees of protection. It includes a low-impact, passive recreation-conservation area, active recreation areas and a 53-acre development area for lodging and meeting space.
The final plan incorporates three key elements proposed by several environmental organizations, including the Environmen-tal League of Massachusetts, the BerkshireNaturalResources Council, the Massachusetts Audubon Society and the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group.
Habitat protections
The first includes establishing long-term protections of open space and wildlife habitats. This would be done "either through a conservation restriction (limiting uses to passive recreation) or by outright transfer to the Mount Greylock State Reservation, [and] will be worked out with the successful project proponent."
Environmentalists had also been concerned about limiting the allowable number of lodging units, roads, parking lots, buildings and restroom facilities. The state chose to include language that would restrict such development to 75,000 square feet of enclosed interior space. This would amount to less than two acres within the designated 53-acre development area.
Also, the final plan settles another concern of environmentalists by permanently prohibiting a golf course.
The plan also includes a number of other changes. It adds language that clearly states "all development must not adversely impact vistas to the town and from the summit of Mount Greylock." It also clearly restates an existing provision in the law that prohibits development of an aerial tramway to the summit of Mount Greylock.
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