Pepperell Planning Board schedules August 12 public hearing on solar energy bylaw

PEPPERELL — July 22, 2019 — Pepperell Planning Board moves solar energy bylaw toward August 12 public hearing ahead of October Town Meeting. The board voted unanimously Monday to schedule a formal public hearing on a revised draft solar bylaw, targeting the fall Town Meeting on October 21, after consultant Lisa presented changes including a terminology shift from "carport" to "solar canopy," an extension of the special permit requirement to medium-scale systems, and direction to add financial surety and cutting-plan provisions. The board also approved Approval Not Required plans for 183 South Road and 39 Boynton Street, and voted unanimously to approve the FY2020 Northern Middlesex Council of Governments community assessment of $3,635.94, with a member noting that NEMCOG services — including master plan work and the downtown survey — return "over ten times" the annual fee in value. A public hearing for 15 Canal Street, where applicant Bill Kennison seeks to convert a commercial building to a three-family dwelling for his adult children, was continued to August 12 after the board found mismatched certification signatures and an inadequate surveyor stamp on the submitted plans.