Pepperell Selectmen Authorize Legal Action Against Soil Reclamation Project at Nashua Road

PEPPERELL — February 11, 2019 — Pepperell Selectmen vote to formally oppose a soil reclamation project and file a ZBA appeal, all before a February 19 deadline. Meeting on February 11, the Board of Selectmen unanimously authorized special town counsel to send a letter of opposition to MassDEP regarding the proposed project at 161 Nashua Road and to appeal Zoning Board of Appeals decision application number 2018-09, which had been issued January 16. The board cited the proponent MCGI's failure to deliver six promised follow-up items since September 2018 and noted 82 resident letters urging action. State Senator Edward Kennedy, newly elected to the 1st Middlesex District seat, attended and pledged to consider legislation limiting dumping near watersheds, asking the town to copy his office on the MassDEP letter. The board also unanimously adopted a Complete Streets policy — modeled on Westford's and Tyngsborough's — unlocking up to $250,000 per cycle in MassDOT streetscape grants, with Main Street and Railroad Square identified as early priorities, and adopted a recycling procurement policy worth roughly $400 per additional grant point annually.