Pepperell Planning Board Continues $80 Million Warehouse Hearing to November 20

PEPPERELL — October 16, 2023 — Pepperell Planning Board continues $80 million warehouse hearing amid traffic and noise concerns. The board voted unanimously Monday to continue a public hearing on a two-building commercial warehouse and distribution complex proposed by Serbanca Development Partners LLC at 149-163 Nashua Road, postponing the next session to November 20 pending Conservation Commission review. The project — representing nearly $80 million in investment with equity partner CDP — would total approximately 454,750 square feet across the two buildings and is projected to add 757 daily vehicle trips and 273 truck trips to Nashua Road, roughly 10 percent and 3.6 percent of existing volumes respectively. Traffic engineer Kim Hazardian of TEP LLC reported level-of-service B or better at both analyzed intersections through a 2030 horizon. Board Chair Alan Paten flagged unresolved questions about tree-clearing buffers near an adjacent parcel, 24-hour operating restrictions across from a residential neighborhood, tiered and motion-activated lighting, airport overflow parking, and replacement screening for two existing buildings slated for demolition. Public commenter Marcel Cates of 99 Brookline Street challenged the projected truck counts, citing existing gravel truck noise starting at 7 a.m. and describing an enforcement vacuum on speed and truck routing that he said no agency has addressed.