A commercial storage and business project in Pembroke’s Central District is moving forward with a significantly smaller footprint than originally envisioned following a key decision by the Planning Board on Monday night. Representatives for Daniel Construction presented a revised proposal for a site featuring a metal building intended for business use and construction storage, anchored by a 1,000-gallon water system and dedicated pump station. The most significant shift in the plan involved a 30 percent reduction in density, dropping the proposed units from 50 down to 35 to better accommodate the local environment.

A representative for Daniel Construction explained that the developer had been working to minimize the project’s impact while ensuring the site remained functional for local business needs. We are looking at a progressive system involving 1,000 gallons of water and a pump station, the representative told the board, noting that the team had already accounted for groundwater systems and fire truck access. We are trying to keep the footprint as small as possible while maintaining the hydraulic connection. We do not want to significantly increase the size of the operation, but rather provide necessary storage.

Chair Andrew Wandell, who also serves as the town’s Conservation Agent and frequently prioritizes environmental compliance and drainage mechanics, guided the board through the technical merits of the application. The discussion highlighted that a lower density would be more favorable for the ground conditions in the Central District. The board ultimately determined that the reduction to 35 units was a necessary condition for the project to integrate safely into the neighborhood’s infrastructure. The project representative noted that the team was comfortable with reporting the number as roughly 35 moving forward, signaling agreement with the board's density cap.

The approval comes as the Planning Board continues to navigate various commercial developments across town, including recent high-profile approvals for Honey Farms and the 177-unit Weathervane subdivision. By capping the density at the Daniel Construction site, the board maintained its recent pattern of balancing commercial growth with the town's existing water and septic capacities. Motion Made by an unidentified member to approve the application of Daniel Construction in the Central District with the condition of reducing the density number to 35. Motion Passed. While the exact vote count was not audible in the session, no members voiced opposition to the conditional approval.