Pembroke’s Zoning Board of Appeals is seeking new resident volunteers to bolster its ranks as the town navigates a surge in municipal and commercial development. Chair Frederick Casavant IV opened the May 11 meeting with a plea for community participation, noting that the board is currently operating with several vacant seats. The board is looking for new community members to serve, Casavant announced, emphasizing the need for a full roster to handle the town’s growing docket of land-use appeals.

The reliance on the board’s alternate members was evident during the session, as alternates Ryan MacDonald and David Lee were called upon to form a quorum in the absence of Vice Chair Christopher McGrail. Casavant introduced the skeleton crew to those in attendance, stating, My name is Frederick Casavant. I'm the chair of the zoning board. I'll let the other members introduce themselves. This limited attendance comes at a time when the board is managing high-stakes decisions, such as the recent remand of a controversial battery storage project on Schoosett Street due to safety concerns raised by the Fire Department.

The evening’s agenda featured a heavy lineup of both private and public projects. Among those appearing before the board was Drew Galant of Apex Companies, representing the Pembroke Water Department. The department is currently in the midst of an $8 million water infrastructure overhaul, a priority project for the town as it seeks to address longstanding water quality issues. Other applicants present included Jeff Tacio of Bristol Brothers Development and local business owner Douglas Lad of Moonrise Audio Visual, reflecting the ongoing commercial interest in the region.

Public engagement remained a focus of the meeting, with neighbors like Larry Roach attending to monitor the proceedings. The board’s current recruitment drive aims to ensure that such resident-led oversight continues to have a robust foundation of voting members. As the town manages multi-million dollar capital investments—including the water overhaul and a $61.1 million public safety building project—the ZBA remains a critical gatekeeper for local zoning compliance and community safety standards.