Ag panel presses on with hobby-farm bylaw plan

Agricultural Commission · Meeting of October 26, 2026

PEPPERELL — The Pepperell Agricultural Commission said it will move forward with a Right to Farm bylaw amendment at Fall Town Meeting despite a Board of Health request to delay it for a joint public hearing. Board of Health Chair Steve Bemelis said his board received the draft only last week and asked for more time to vet concerns with "all stakeholders," including the Select Board and building inspector. Select Board member Chuck Walkovich, speaking as a resident, argued the change would strip residents of nuisance-complaint rights against small hobby farms, saying "I don't believe that this was transparent at all." Commission members countered the amendment "essentially supports the status quo" by formalizing an existing dispute-resolution pathway rather than removing protections.

No vote was taken on the delay request; members agreed by consensus to proceed to Town Meeting, set for 9 a.m. November 7, and meet separately with the Board of Health after January 1.

In the full story:

• Minutes approval
• Right to Farm bylaw amendment: background and the Douglas precedent
• The question before the body, and the Board of Health's request
• The deliberation: transparency, nuisance rights and unintended consequences
• Procedural steps and outcome
• Implications and what is next
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,068 words

Source: the Agricultural Commission meeting of October 26, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.