Pepperell Planning Board Unanimously Approves Pierce Street Common Driveway Special Permit

PEPPERELL — July 6, 2020 — Pepperell Planning Board approves Pierce Street common driveway special permit, requiring full underground utilities and giving the town 30 days to opt into a cul-de-sac upgrade. The board voted five to zero Monday to approve the special permit for a four-lot common driveway project, overriding a draft provision that would have allowed overhead utility lines to serve the first new lot and instead mandating underground service to all four lots — lots three, six, seven, and eight. On the turnaround question, the board rejected pressure from Town Engineer Ken Kalinowski and Highway Superintendent Mike Schrader for a full cul-de-sac, instead requiring the applicant to build a T-type turnaround and provide a separate cost estimate for the bulb upgrade, with the town holding a 30-day window to pay the cost difference. Member Al argued the town had "no comments with regards to leaving it as it was" before pushing for the more expensive design. The board also added a sprinkler-system requirement for lots seven and eight, corrected a draft reference to town water to reflect private wells and on-site septic, and noted a full Planning Board member seat is vacant following the departure of Rick McHugh.