Planning Board Approves Dunkin' Donuts Permit With Mandatory One-Way Traffic Design

PEPPERELL — February 6, 2017 — Pepperell Planning Board unanimously approved a Dunkin' Donuts special permit at 63 Main Street, conditioned on one-way traffic circulation. The board closed a continued public hearing and voted to approve the site plan for Map 23, Lot 164, with the condition that the applicant redesign the western driveway to require one-way flow and submit the revised striping and signage plan to Town Engineer Ken Kalinowski for approval before finalization. Both Kalinowski and the police chief had submitted written objections to the proposed two-way entrance, citing proximity to the police station driveway — which one board member estimated at fewer than 40 feet — and the risk of drive-through queues blocking emergency vehicle egress. The applicant's representative acknowledged that the modification would amount to signage and striping changes only. The board also voted to reassign its NEMCOG representatives and heard that the regional planning body had approved three Pepperell projects, including a $20,000 master plan grant. The meeting closed with a lengthy review of departmental feedback on a proposed Open Space Residential Development bylaw revision, with a March 16 town warrant deadline now two meetings away.