Pepperell Select Board Creates Housing Production Plan Committee, Eyes Norfolk Conservation Agent Deal

PEPPERELL — March 19, 2026 — Pepperell Select Board votes to form a seven-member Housing Production Plan Committee and advances a conservation agent-sharing deal with Norfolk. The board voted 5-0 Tuesday to create the committee — with seats for the Select Board, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Housing Authority, and three citizens at large — to guide a state-approved planning process funded at $55,000 through the Community Preservation Committee. Director of Planning and Economic Development Rachel Benson noted the town's prior housing plan expired in September 2010, leaving Pepperell without "safe harbor" protection against unwanted 40B developments. The board also gave Town Manager Michael J. King a green light to finalize an intermunicipal agreement with Norfolk to share a full-time conservation agent beginning July 1, with Norfolk covering benefits costs and Pepperell paying a salary assessment for 20 hours of service per week. State Representative Marcus Vaughn reported Pepperell received $124,197 in body camera grant funding — the only community in the immediate area to win an award out of 85 applicants — and King disclosed that Pepperell has estimated roughly $200,000 in additional public safety costs tied to FIFA World Cup games at Gillette Stadium, with a mitigation grant decision still pending.