Pepperell Planning Board endorses Gannon ANR plan, introduces incoming planning administrator

PEPPERELL — December 5, 2016 — Pepperell Planning Board unanimously endorsed a three-lot approval-not-required plan and welcomed its incoming planning administrator at its December 5 meeting. The board signed an ANR plan drawn by Ross Associates for Barbara Gannon at 13 to 17 Lawrence Street, dividing the parcel into three lots ranging from 4.85 to 8.65 acres, including one reduced-frontage lot at 150 feet. Steve Parker, who served as planning director in Worcester from 1988 to 2002 and has consulted independently since, was introduced to the board after meeting with the Select Board the same evening. Parker told the board, "You are the planners — I'll give you my opinion when you ask," and confirmed he will begin a transitional part-time schedule Wednesday before moving to full time within two weeks. Board members flagged immediate priorities for Parker: correcting cross-referencing errors in the subdivision regulations and restoring accurate regulatory guidance to residents, with multiple members noting they had recently fielded calls from people given incorrect information at Town Hall.