White Hart approved for pizza nights amid permitting debate

The White Hart Inn is located in Salisbury.
Alec Linden
The White Hart Inn is located in Salisbury.
“If the paperwork’s not right, I’d love to see it get fixed,” —Cathy Shyer, vice chair Salisbury Planning and Zoning Commission
SALISBURY — The White Hart Inn will once again run its pizza evenings on the lawn this summer, however, the Planning and Zoning Commission has lingering questions as to the permitting status of Provisions, the hotel’s café that runs the popular event.
After some debate regarding Salisbury’s Zoning Regulation 906, which deals with temporary permits, on May 19 the Commission voted to allow the Inn to conduct its outdoor pizza operation for the season. P&Z stipulated this would be the final temporary permit granted to the hotel.
Attorney Emily Vail, representing the Inn, first brought the application to the Commission at its May 5 meeting, where Chair Michael Klemens said that he was disappointed to see an application for a temporary permit. The Inn had been issued one last year, he explained, but was asked to return with an application for a broader special permit that would account for several outstanding issues with parking and the Provisions restaurant should it decide to use the pizza oven again.
Attorney Vail explained that the Inn was again seeking a temporary permit because site plans were still being drawn for the general application. She added that her client was taking precautions regarding potential fallout from an ongoing litigation against P&Z that would affect its ability to regulate hotels in the “rural-residential 1” zone, which the White Hart Inn is located in.
Klemens advised Vail to speak with P&Z’s lawyer Charles Andres “out of an abundance of caution,” and to return to P&Z on May 19 to review options.
When Vail appeared before the Commission again on May 19, she said that the Inn would still seek a temporary permit for this summer’s pizza oven operation as it remained the best option after her conversation with Andres. She also returned with a document that she alleged negated Klemens’ claims on May 5 that Provisions had been developed “entirely without any permits, and site plans.”
She presented a blueprint of the Provisions kitchen and dining area, which was stamped as received by the Planning and Zoning Commission office on May 13, 2016, and upon which a box for office use titled “Zoning Permit #” was filled in with the letters “NR,” which Vail interpreted to mean “Not Required.”
Land Use Administrator Abby Conroy said she could not accept the document as zoning approval, since there was no signature from the previous zoning enforcement officer, Nancy Brusie, or any other indication of a sign-off from the office.
Commission Secretary Martin Whalen noted that Vail’s reading of “NR” was only an interpretation, to which she conceded that it also could indicate “Not Reviewed.”
Vail reiterated that “the application was submitted for zoning review in 2016”; the Inn had done its due diligence. Still, the Commission continued to question the Inn’s lack of proper documentation.
Members of P&Z agreed that the conversation surrounding the Inn’s proper permitting — much of which revolves around whether Provisions qualifies as a “high-turnover” restaurant and subsequent parking implications — was best left for another time as the focus of the evening’s discussion was the temporary permit for the pizza oven.
Before moving on, P&Z Vice Chair Cathy Shyer, who acted as chair in Klemens’ absence at the May 19 meeting, strongly encouraged the Inn to work towards total site plan approval.
“I think we all feel very good about the services the White Hart offers and the community spirit that they’ve built over the years, there’s no question about that,” she said, “but if the paperwork’s not right, I’d love to see it get fixed.”
Vail said that the Inn was taking active steps towards that end, but that the process has been more complicated than simply submitting an application.
Responding to request for comment, Hotel Manager Daniel Winkley stated, “We are grateful to P&Z for supporting our efforts to bring pizza back to the green this year.” He declined to elaborate on the broader permitting situation.
Aradev LLC’s plans to redevelop Wake Robin Inn include four 2,000-square-foot cabins, an event space, a sit-down restaurant and fast-casual counter, a spa, library, lounge, gym and seasonal pool. If approved, guest room numbers would increase from 38 to 57.
LAKEVILLE — The public hearing for the redevelopment of Wake Robin Inn is over. Salisbury Planning and Zoning Commission now has two months to make a decision.
The hearing closed on Tuesday, Sept. 9, after its seventh session.
Michael Klemens, chair of P&Z, had warned at the opening of the proceedings that “this might be a long night” due to a last-minute influx of material from experts hired by Wells Hill Road residents William and Angela Cruger to oppose the project, but this turned out not to be the case.
These 11th hour submissions set a sour tone to the start of the meeting, with commissioner Robert Riva stating that it was “not very professional to pull this stunt on this Commission.” Riva said he had diligently reviewed the already substantial documentation provided by both the applicant and the opposing experts, and was surprised to find a “dump” of additional information submitted just hours before the meeting’s start time at 6 p.m.
Tensions were quickly eased, however, when William Cruger offered his concise summation of his platform’s opposition to the expansion, which is the second iteration of the project after an earlier version was withdrawn late last year.
“It’s important for you all to hear from me that there was never any disrespect intended to the Commission, the commissioners, and to the process,” Cruger said. He defended the last-minute submissions as an effort on the part of the experts to be thorough in their analysis: “Our intention… has been and remains to do our best to get whatever we think will be helpful in your deliberations into the record.”
The Crugers formally entered the hearing process as intervenors for the first application from Aradev LLC, the applicant, in the fall of 2024, meaning they and their hired consultants had full party status in the hearing proceedings. During this cycle, however, they chose not to petition for intervenor status, yet during this round of hearings their role has been similar. Klemens described them as having “almost intervenor status — not quite.”
William Cruger summarized the consultant’s findings for Aradev’s revised application, noting they found it to be “virtually identical in scale to the previous proposal.”
“Our position is that the proposed expansion would absolutely negatively impact the usefulness, enjoyment and value of the surrounding properties,” he said.
Aradev’s attorney Joshua Mackey countered by saying that the special permit conditions would elevate the currently non-conforming hotel in the zone, describing it as a “community asset that is improved, regulated, and safeguarded for generations to come.” He characterized Aradev as “the next steward of this storied property.”
After Mackey and Aradev co-founder Steven Cohen concluded their remarks, Klemens closed the hearing with no public comment, which he had stated would be the case at last week’s hearing session on Thursday, Sept. 4. Klemens said that P&Z will begin deliberating the proposal in early October after the commissioners have had the chance to review the information in the record.
A total of 45 letters, including the Crugers’ experts’ testimony, were submitted since the Sept. 4 meeting alone, alongside hundreds of pages of application materials and additional testimony.
As the Commission deliberates and reviews, all of this information is available for public viewing on the “Meeting Documents” subpage under P&Z’s section on the town website, www.salisburyct.us.
The Commission must issue a decision on the application by Nov. 13, the end of the statutorily defined deliberation window.
The Weavery is Stanton Home’s oldest activity space, featuring a collection of vintage and modern floor looms. It offers opportunities for building dexterity, creative expression, and social connection through fiber arts.
Stanton Home is holding its annual Harvest Roast fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 13 in Great Barrington, an evening of farm-to-table dining, live swing music, and community connection.
For nearly 40 years, Stanton Home has supported adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential programs, therapeutic services and skill-building activities.
“Here in the Berkshires, adults with diverse abilities often face barriers like limited housing, tricky transportation, and fewer opportunities for meaningful work,” said Executive Director Peter Stanton. “Stanton Home flips that script. Our mission is to partner with adults to pursue healthy, self-determined lives.”
The Harvest Roast features locally grilled meats, roasted vegetables from Stanton’s own gardens, warm apple crisp with SoCo Creamery ice cream, and beverages —all set to the swing and gypsy jazz rhythms of the Lucky 5 Band.
“The Harvest Roast is a celebration of what makes our community strong, inclusive, and vibrant,” Stanton said. “Every ticket and sponsored table supports programs that make a lasting difference.”
Guests will begin in the gardens with a signature cocktail before gathering at long farm tables for a shared meal and celebration.
“Though this night matters, the work is year-round,” Stanton added. “People can help by shopping locally at the farm store or buying handmade weavery goods, pitching in with time or skills, gardening, lending a hand at events or by partnering with Stanton’s programs like composting or sourcing local goods. Folks can also speak up for inclusion in their workplace or community circle. Even the smallest action helps keep the mission alive.”
Tickets are $125 per person. Proceeds support Stanton Home’s inclusive programs. Reserve at donorbox.org/events/771775/steps/choose_tickets or call 413-441-0761.
Following the memorable benefit reading last season of Charles Busch’s Tony-nominated Broadway hit, “The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife,” the Sharon Playhouse will present a one-night-only staged reading of his riotous comic melodrama “Die Mommie Die!” on Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.
The production —a deliciously over-the-top homage to classic Hollywood mid-century thrillers — continues the Playhouse’s artistic partnership with Busch, who reprises his iconic role of the glamorous yet troubled songstress Angela Arden.
The playwright and performer is no stranger to the Playhouse and, luckily, he’s supported by a truly stellar powerhouse cast of top-notch comic actors — some returning to the Playhouse stage, and some making their debut. The cast includes Richard Kind; two-time Tony Award nominee Kristine Nielsen, who was part of the original New York cast; Tony Award winner Celia Keenan-Bolger; Andrew Keenan-Bolger; and Claybourne Elder.
The production also marks a fortuitous alignment of talent and history. It is directed by Sharon Playhouse Artistic Director Carl Andress, who performed in the play’s Los Angeles premiere in 1999.
“I have a long and happy history with this particular show,” Andress said. “At the Sharon Playhouse, we’re thrilled to offer unforgettable, one-of-a-kind live experiences. With Charles Busch and this phenomenal cast, ‘Die Mommie Die!’ will surely light up the Olsen Stage with laughter, wit and glamour.”
The original music is by Lewis Flinn, whose score for the 2007 Off-Broadway production is being adapted specially for this event.
The play is a classic Charles Busch concoction that, like all his work, lovingly and intelligently spoofs some of the greatest talents and tropes of stage and screen. The original production was praised by critics as his “funniest, most accomplished and, without question, raunchiest work.”
In 2003, Busch won the Best Performance award at the Sundance Film Festival for the film version of “Die Mommie Die!” His indelible contributions to American theater have been recognized with countless awards and he was recently inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.
The event promises to be an unforgettable night of laughter, glamour and theatrical fun, with all proceeds going to benefit Sharon Playhouse’s productions and educational programs. The funds will help ensure that the Playhouse continues to thrive as a cultural destination for audiences and artists alike.
For tickets, visit: sharonplayhouse.org. Running time: 90 minutes.
Richard Feiner and Annette Stover have worked and taught in the arts, communications, and philanthropy in West Berlin, Paris, Tokyo, and New York. Passionate supporters of the arts, they live in Salisbury and Greenwich Village.