Pepperell Conservation Commission Approves Order of Conditions for 3 Mason Street Project

PEPPERELL — January 18, 2022 — Pepperell Conservation Commission unanimously approved an order of conditions Tuesday for a single-family construction project at 3 Mason Street, clearing a wetland buffer dispute that had stalled the application since a prior session. Commissioner Pat Rice pressed consultant Maureen Harold of Northwest Environmental to move the silt fence — the designated limit of work — to 45 or 46 feet from the closest wetland flag, rather than relying on the driveway's 51-foot setback as the sole protection; Harold agreed to submit a revised plan to staff. The commission also heard from Deb Fountain of the Invasive and Native Plant Advisory Committee, who won the commission's informal backing as a co-applicant on a Wild and Scenic Stewardship grant to map culverts and invasive plants on Nashua and Squannacook River tributaries. Commission Chair Bob agreed to sign the application. Staff separately asked commissioners to review a draft open space residential development bylaw that would raise the required open space set-aside on qualifying subdivisions from 40 to 50 percent, with feedback due by early February. The town is also set to receive $3.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds, and staff flagged water supply and open space protection as potential uses under active town-level discussion.