Plans are in the works for a 15-acre self-storage facility off Cranberry Highway at Route 28 and Kings Highway.
Petitioner JPF Development’s engineer Bill Madden told Rochester’s Planning Board Tuesday night that the facility will combine four large lots and include 180 small, self-storage units and 64 others. Fencing will surround the site, and landscaping will enhance the view of the property from the highway. A roadway will provide firefighting access to the site.
Madden said he intends to file the project’s permit application within a week. The Approval Not Required application to combine the lots has already been filed and will be on the Planning Board’s agenda on Tuesday, October 10.
Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson noted where project approval might run into a problem. He complained the current plan shows the draining basin is within 100 feet of a wetlands buffer zone and wanted to know why Madden could not adjust the basin’s location. Madden assured Johnson that he could either make the basin smaller or simply take great care that the work will not touch wetlands, “with the proper direction,” Madden said.
“You should get to the Conservation Commission at the same time you file with us to avoid complications,” Johnson advised.
Madden said he does indeed want to file with the Planning and Conservation panels concurrently.
Johnson also warned the plan does not include hydrants within the site. “The Fire Department will want hydrants. There will be pushback,” he said.
Johnson added that the project’s official public hearing probably will be set for the board’s October 24 public meeting.
The Planning Board began Tuesday night’s meeting by approving an Approval Not Required application for the proposed subdivision of a 22.6-acre lot at 572 Snipatuit Road, but the board could not act on the Special Permit to develop the two lots.
The petitioner’s representative, Brian Wallace of JC Engineering based nearby in East Wareham, explained that one lot has an existing home on it but that the back lot is vacant but developable. Because the person whose name is on the application is not the current property owner, the board continued the public hearing to Tuesday, October 10, so that confusion can be cleared up.
Next, the board approved the Marijuana Establishment Draft Decision that will allow Megan’s Organic Market to open at 621 County Road. The vote was near unanimous. The lone dissenting vote came from Chris Silveira.
Johnson then updated the board on the work of the Public Safety Building Feasibility Study Committee that he chairs. He reported that the Feasibility Study is complete and options are being considered. He said the Select Board will be asked on Monday, October 2, to dissolve the Feasibility Study panel and form a Building Committee. He hinted that all options to build an addition to the Police Station and build a new Fire Station will be expensive and will require a debt exclusion override vote.
The Rochester Planning Board will meet next on Tuesday, October 10, at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Planning Board
By Michael J. DeCicco