Pepperell Planning Board Approves $3,200 for Town Hall Historic Grant Bid

PEPPERELL — February 7, 2022 — Pepperell Planning Board approves $3,200 for Town Hall grant study and sets retail cap in adaptive reuse bylaw. The board voted 4-0 at its February 7 remote meeting to release master plan implementation funds to retain TBA Architects to update a 2007 building assessment of Town Hall's deteriorating second floor and front doors, a step required before the town can apply for a Massachusetts Historical Commission capital matching grant. Town Administrator Andrew McClain's letter called the request "an ideal use" of the fund. The board also gave direction on the Adaptive Reuse of Significant Structures bylaw, settling on a 7,500-square-foot cap per retail establishment after member Al warned that unrestricted retail had previously killed a Fitzpatrick School rezoning vote — noting for comparison that the average Dollar General is 7,400 square feet and the Walgreens in town runs about 10,000. Both the adaptive reuse article and an Inclusionary Zoning bylaw are scheduled for a Select Board hearing February 14 and a first Planning Board public hearing March 21, ahead of spring town meeting.