Pepperell Planning Board targets April 10 site visit for Heritage Estates drainage dispute

PEPPERELL — April 1, 2024 — Pepperell Planning Board schedules Heritage Estates site visit and advances solar farm fee decision. Acting Chair Dave Ganong presided over the April 1 session, where the three-member board unanimously recommended Kathy Lundin for appointment to the Affordable Housing Committee, filling a planning board-designated vacancy on that panel. Residents Jen Arsenault of 35 Bacon Street and Patrick McHulps of 36 Bacon Street pressed the board on unresolved drainage failures at the Heritage Estates subdivision, describing permanently standing water in the development's detention pond, a new green film on the water's surface, and basement flooding in homes less than a year old. The board targeted a formal posted site walk on Wednesday, April 10, with developer Ken Tully and relevant contractors. On a proposed solar farm at the Bemis Estates parcel off Bemis and Lawrence Roads, the board agreed to impose both a $250 special-permit fee and a separately calculated major site plan fee of approximately $3,000 — the first time the town has faced the question — while flagging that the fee structure may need a future bylaw revision. The town administrator announced that a candidate for the permanent town planner position had accepted an offer and was pending only a CORI background check.