Pepperell Planning Board Unanimously Approves 23 Mill Street Research Facility Permits

PEPPERELL — October 2, 2023 — Pepperell Planning Board votes unanimously to approve a research and development facility at the former St. Regis Mill site on 23 Mill Street. The board, chaired by Al Patten, closed public hearings and approved both the major site plan and land use disturbance permit and two special permits for applicant Melissa Robbins on behalf of Green 1A Investments, LLC, voting 4-0 on the site plan approvals with one member briefly absent and 5-0 on the special permits. Engineer Matt Hammer of Limplex Engineering and Surveying told the board that a proposed sewer main relocation — the central outstanding technical issue — had been ruled out after a meeting with town officials determined that excavation near the Nashua River embankment was impractical, and peer reviewer Jean Christie of Tighe & Bond confirmed "most of our comments have been addressed." Approvals carry conditions requiring a final Tighe & Bond response letter and Conservation Commission sign-off before the project can proceed to building permits. The board also discussed a suite of unclosed subdivision projects raising enforcement concerns across multiple town departments, with Chair Patten calling for written submissions from all departments so the issues can be formally agendized.