Pepperell Planning Board approves Tucker Street duplex modification, schedules Railroad Square review

PEPPERELL — March 4, 2024 — Pepperell Planning Board approves modified special permit for Tucker Street duplex, opens Railroad Square reckoning. The board voted 4-0 to approve a minor modification to Special Permit SP-2016-02 for 26 Tucker Street, allowing applicants to replace two planned detached units with a single duplex-style structure at the rear of the lot, with conditions requiring 12-foot driveway separation, an engineer on site during stormwater basin construction, and site work begun before September 8, 2024. The meeting's weightiest business came during a review of Railroad Square, where business owners including Brian Babineau (60 Heald Street), Shiv Patel of Ray's Baggy Store, and Francesca of Frank's Diner described losing 10 to 15 percent of monthly revenue, eliminated parking, and dangerous sight lines since a complete streets and shared streets grant project began last October. Highway Superintendent Mike Schrader told the board he was excluded from further planning meetings after objecting to the parking removal, calling it "absolutely dumb" on a routed road, while Building Commissioner and ADA Coordinator Matt McBurgett said accessible parking as built does not meet functional standards and he was told the problem would be "fixed later." Chair Al Pound said the project is roughly 40 percent complete under an active contract and committed to a Saturday plan-review session March 16 at 9 a.m. The board also voted 4-0 to continue its public hearing on revised Subdivision Rules and Regulations to the same date.