Pepperell Conservation Commission approves PFAS facility order, continues 40B wetland hearing

PEPPERELL -- November 18, 2025, Pepperell Conservation Commission issues two orders of conditions and continues a disputed 40B wetlands case. The commission voted unanimously to approve orders of conditions for both the town's new PFAS water treatment facility at 13 and 13B Jersey Street and a residential garage project at 42 Park Street, where the applicant's consultant Maureen reported shifting the garage seven feet forward to increase its wetland setback from 41 to 48 feet. A notice of intent for a temporary wetland crossing at 10 Hillside Street was continued to December 2 after Conservation Agent Paula said she needed a joint field visit with wetland scientist Matt Murrow to resolve questions about whether certain areas constitute jurisdictional bank on the Outstanding Resource Water parcel. The most extended debate centered on a proposed five-building, 180-unit 40B complex at 59 Leiden Street and 41A Lowell Road, where consultant Dave Crossman told the board that revised plans promised by the project engineer had not arrived, a DEP file number with stream crossing comments came in only that morning, and commission member Bob said the proximity of two of the buildings to the wetlands made "the viability of the entire project a problem"; that hearing was continued to December 16, with materials due December 9.