Pepperell Planning Board Votes to Fund Fitzpatrick Building Code Review

PEPPERELL — March 13, 2023 — Pepperell Planning Board advances food hub study with two unanimous votes. The board approved up to $5,000 in Master Plan Implementation Trust funds for a Chapter 34 building code review of the Peter Fitzpatrick School and voted to recommend using a portion of a state earmark to fund Phase 2 of a food hub and commercial kitchen study by Northbound Ventures Consulting. Chair Al Baddard and member David Gagnon led discussion distinguishing two separate use tracks — a shared commercial kitchen for food trucks and small food businesses, and an aggregation-focused food hub linking Pepperell-area farms to wholesale buyers including the Boston Area Gleaners in Acton, which hold a USDA specialty crop grant and, according to consultant Holly Fowler, are "ready to start." Steve Temple of the Peter Fitzpatrick Collaborative told the board that Interstate Food Equipment Services of Manchester, New Hampshire had already completed an on-site equipment assessment the prior week under a $60,000 MassDevelopment matching grant, and offered to present findings at the board's March 20 meeting. The MPIT account has approximately $7,000 remaining for the fiscal year.