Pepperell Planning Board closes hearing on 13-lot Hollis Street open space development

PEPPERELL — February 10, 2016 — Pepperell Planning Board closes hearing on contested 13-lot open space subdivision off Hollis Street. The board voted unanimously Wednesday to close the public hearing on a special permit application by Albert W. Pattenhuller Jr. for an open space residential development on approximately 30 acres at 68-72 and 76-78 Hollis Street, after debating whether the project's density bonus calculations — which take a conventional nine-lot base to a proposed 13 lots — comply with the 20 percent aggregate cap in Section 7180 of the town's zoning bylaw. Conservation Commission member Robert Rand, citing the bylaw directly, argued the allowable bonus rounds down to one additional unit, not four, and that "the density bonus for OSRD shall not in aggregate exceed 20 percent of the basic maximum number." Engineer Mark Piermarini of Whitman and Bingham Associates agreed to resubmit square footage calculations for the 18.75-acre open space parcel before the definitive plan is filed. Ann Gagnon of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife confirmed her agency holds a signed purchase option on Lots 12 and 13, meaning only 11 of the 13 approved lots would ultimately be developed. The board also unanimously approved a frontage waiver reducing Lot 6 from the required 75 feet to 45.92 feet.