Pepperell Planning Board elects Patnode chair, Gong clerk in leadership overhaul

PEPPERELL — July 5, 2022 — Pepperell Planning Board unanimously elected new leadership at its July 5 meeting, voting to make Al Patnode chair, David Gong clerk, and Joyce the board's representative to the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments. Outgoing Chair Casey, who had held the role for nearly two years, declined renomination and expressed a desire to return to a standard member role, saying "it's an honor and I certainly do my best — I could definitely use a break." Patnode accepted the nomination while flagging a concern about his deep roots in town, noting he wanted to ensure "anything done by the board is fully recognized by the public and doesn't have any conflict tied to it." The board also conducted an informal site plan review for Babin Landscaping, which seeks to swap a front-area diesel fueling station for a propane exchange station, relocate the diesel fueling point to the rear of the property, and expand porous pavement coverage from roughly 11,000 to 13,700 square feet; the board directed the applicant to file a minor modification application for a future meeting. Town Planner Jenny reported that a draft 40R Smart Growth Overlay proposal from NMCOG was expected that week, with a preliminary hearing set for July 21 and design guidelines requiring board approval by October to keep the proposal on track for fall Town Meeting.