Pepperell Planning Board Strips Conflicting Provisions From Draft Rules Revision

PEPPERELL — March 27, 2023 — Pepperell Planning Board strips a dozen provisions from draft design-standards overhaul, continues hearing to April 3. Working through pages 12 to 25 of a 53-page revision to its rules and regulations under MGL Chapter 40A Section 9 and Chapter 41 Section 81Q, the board deleted or rewrote provisions on street trees, parking garage orientation, residential cluster development, agrihood-style open space, administrative intake procedures, on-street parking references, and building material compliance with the state's 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap. Building Commissioner Bentley prompted deletion of the entire Section 6.2 administrative block, which duplicated intake procedures already described earlier in the document. The board agreed to refer a contested one-for-one tree replacement requirement to the Climate Change Committee after public commenter Chuck Walkovich of Countryside Road said that body may already be drafting a standalone tree bylaw. Deb Fountain, chair of the Invasive and Native Plant Advisory Committee, read language into the record encouraging applicants to limit manicured lawn to areas immediately surrounding buildings and use native grasses elsewhere — language the board received without objection. The board voted unanimously to continue the public hearing at its April 3 meeting, where a Chamberlain Way special permit modification is the only other scheduled item.