Pepperell Planning Board advances inclusionary zoning and adaptive reuse bylaws toward spring Town Meeting

PEPPERELL — November 15, 2021 — Pepperell Planning Board moves two major zoning articles toward spring Town Meeting. The board reviewed a draft inclusionary zoning bylaw that would require developers of five or more residential units to provide affordable housing, pay a fee in lieu, or donate land, a threshold set after the Massachusetts Housing Partnership advised that an earlier three-unit proposal could deter developers. Town Planner Jenny, who drafted the bylaw with the Affordable Housing Committee and consultant Katie Lacy of the Massachusetts Housing Partnership, will next send the document to Town Counsel before it proceeds to the Select Board and a formal Planning Board public hearing. The board also debated the scope of an adaptive reuse overlay district bylaw, currently limited to municipal and religious structures with at least 15 years of prior use — approximately 11 buildings town-wide — with members divided on whether to expand it to historic residential structures; longtime member Alan warned that vague or expansive articles have historically "been up in flames before you can speak twice" at Town Meeting. The board also directed NEMCOG planner Jeff Owen to update Pepperell's 2012 design guidelines town-wide rather than limiting the revision to the Railroad Square corridor, with individual member comments due November 30 ahead of a December 20 working session.