Pepperell Planning Board continues Jersey Street water plant hearing, orders peer review

PEPPERELL -- February 2, 2026, Pepperell Planning Board votes to continue public hearing on a proposed PFAS water treatment plant at 13 Jersey Street. The board unanimously continued the hearing to March 2, 2026 after DPW Director Paul Brinkman presented plans for a facility with a peak capacity of 1.3 million gallons per day, designed to remove PFAS using granular activated carbon. Town Planner Jason flagged that the town-initiated project had not received the same third-party stormwater engineering review the board routinely requires of private applicants, and all four voting members agreed a peer review limited to stormwater and infiltration design was warranted given the site's location in a well protection zone. Two Crawford Way abutters spoke during public comment, requesting earlier installation of the screening berm and raising concerns about construction traffic near the adjacent ball fields. The board outlined draft conditions including earth-tone exterior colors, light poles capped at 12 feet, motion sensors on exterior fixtures, striped employee parking in the lower rear lot, and a required conversation between DPW and the Parks and Recreation Commission on access road safety during construction.