The Rochester Conservation Commission on January 21 revisited the Notice of Intent filed by Steen Realty and Development Corporation, Inc., developer of the 40R affordable housing development known as Rochester Crossroads at 22 Cranberry Highway.
The proposed work that includes stormwater management systems to accommodate the 208-unit housing complex falls entirely within the 100-foot wetlands buffer zone, with some work occurring within the 25-foot no-touch zone.
Engineer Phil Cordeiro told the commission that he had only a few updates to present this week, but nothing pertaining to the project’s design.
The commission attended a site visit over the prior weekend to familiarize itself with the location, and Cordeiro said he also discussed the findings from Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon’s own separate walk of the site and its wetlands lines.
“Nothing has transpired from our side, and we haven’t made any modifications to the plan at this point,” Cordeiro said, adding that Farinon only had a few comments about two wetland flags that needed to be revisited by the developer’s wetlands scientist and a request that the developer remove some old PVC piping and debris from two sites left behind by a nursery that was once located there.
Cordeiro said he would prefer that the two cleanups be included in the Order of Conditions as special conditions.
Assisting the commission is environmental consultant Henry Nover, who provided the commission with his comments on the stormwater management system plan. He recommended two additional test pit sites and a groundwater mounding analysis be performed to test the stormwater management system’s calculations against a 100-year storm.
Cordeiro said that the project would be appearing before the Planning Board in the following week for its first formal hearing and that they would be presenting a plan that he believes “already captures what is likely to be their comments.”
“I hope that we’ve checked the boxes, but we’re not quite there,” said Cordeiro.
The hearing was continued until February 4.
In other matters, the public hearing for the Request for Determination of Applicability, continued from December 17, for the Town of Rochester for work at the Leonard’s Pond recreation area was again continued until February 4.
With one recusal leading to a lack of a quorum, the public hearing for Pedro Rodriguez of Solar MA Project Management, LLC was continued until February 4.
The Notice of Intent for REpurpose Properties, LLC for an age-restricted residential development on Rounseville Road beside Plumb Corner Mall was continued until February 4.
The next meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission is scheduled for February 4 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.
Rochester Conservation Commission
By Jean Perry