Planning Board OKs Brayton Point stormwater permit
The Somerset Planning Board approved a stormwater permit for the former Brayton Point power plant site and pushed a Taco Bell review to August.
Planning Board · Meeting of July 21, 2026
SOMERSET — The Somerset Planning Board approved a stormwater permit for the former Brayton Point power plant site and pushed a Taco Bell review to August. Chair Gary Simons and members voted 3-0 to accept the application, covering decommissioning of the site's old cooling towers and a stormwater system meant to protect an adjacent shellfish growing area, subject to a July 14, 2026 peer-review memo and new surface water sampling at the site's cooling canal. Clerk Lloyd Mendes, who made the motion, said he was adding a sampling condition he had "raised this at our last meeting." Engineer Kyle Varela represented the applicant and said contractor Manafort would provide an updated construction schedule.
Separately, the board continued a stormwater permit for a proposed Taco Bell at 721 GAR Highway to August 11, pending the peer reviewer's unfinished report, and endorsed Chapter 91 plans for jetty and dock repairs at 96 Anchor Drive without a vote. Member Nicole McDonald was absent.
In the full story:
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- The complete report — 1,456 words
Source: the Planning Board meeting of July 21, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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