Stockbridge Board Closes Elm Court Hearing, Sets April 9 Vote on Resort Conditions

STOCKBRIDGE -- March 26, 2026, Stockbridge Select Board closes evidentiary hearing on Elm Court resort application, continues to April 9. The board voted unanimously Thursday to close the record on Vanderbilt Berkshire Estate LLC's application to amend a special permit for the roughly 90-acre estate at 310 Old Stockbridge Road, scheduling a final deliberation and vote for April 9 at 6:30 p.m. Attorney Jonathan Silverstein confirmed the proposal totals 112 keys, 74 hotel rooms and up to 38 residential units, and offered to remove language allowing the resort to retain and rent any of those homes as managed villas, saying "we're willing to give up that flexibility." Town counsel Christopher told the board that a posted financial surety combined with a prohibition on residential certificates of occupancy until the mansion is restored "strikes me as a pretty solid foundation" for guaranteeing preservation comes first. Applicant and general partner Rick Pizer told the board flatly that "the 38 number is absolutely crucial" and that any reduction "pretty much ensures that nothing's going to happen," while board members Georgia and Jamie remained uncomfortable with that density, putting competing preferred figures of 19 and 28 units on the table.