Conservation Commission Rejects 32-Acre Open Space Offer from Woodland Ridge Developer

PEPPERELL — June 2, 2026 — Pepperell Conservation Commission unanimously declined 32 acres of open space offered by the Woodland Ridge 40B development, citing utility infrastructure and fragile corridor protections. Matt Waterman of Lantech Consultants pitched two parcels — a 28-acre Parcel A and a 3.9-acre Parcel B containing stormwater and septic utilities — representing roughly 70 percent of the 45.5-acre site off Orion Road. One member said flatly, "We want natural undeveloped land and we don't want utilities like stormwater management basins or septic systems," while another warned the proposed wildlife corridor depended on privately held, unprotected land to the north and south. The commission also issued an order of conditions for a single-family house at 14 Cranberry Street following fire chief approval of a revised driveway layout, and ratified two certificates of compliance from 2003 for properties on Heel Street and Hillside Street. The Woodland Ridge open space will instead be maintained by the development's homeowners association.