Pepperell Planning Board caps major site plan review fee at $10,000

PEPPERELL — September 5, 2023 — Pepperell Planning Board votes to cap its major site plan review fee at $10,000 and reduces a Chamberlain Way bond release from $51,660 to $33,800 after on-site inspections found multiple items incomplete. Town Planner Andrew McClain presented a comparative analysis showing Pepperell's uncapped fee was the highest among surveyed neighboring towns for large projects — reaching nearly $24,000 against a regional range of $1,000 to $24,000 — and said the current structure implied 475 hours of staff review time for a project that realistically requires 40 to 100. The board voted 5-0 on both items. Residents of Scotch Pine Farm Way described a propane tank submerged for three years, crumbling pavement, and unexplained runoff sheen; Chair Al Fadon said he would meet with McClain and Conservation Administrator Paula Tarassi to pursue remediation through the project's recorded condominium trust, which names developer Jeff Chabot and property owners Michael and Donna Quintel as jointly responsible for common area maintenance.