The first order of business undertaken by the Rochester Conservation Commission during its September 18 meeting was to continue the Notice of Intent filing for a proposed age-restricted subdivision planned for the property adjacent to Plumb Corner. The hearing was continued to October 2, but not before Chairman Michael Conway expressed his frustration.
“Can we get that person in here so I can look him face to face and ask why so many continuances?” Conway asked of Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon.
Farinon defended the applicant saying, “As we know, there have been issues with drainage.” She explained that drainage from the Plumb Corner commercial strip mall had to be addressed before the project could move along. She also explained, “As you know, there is an outstanding order of conditions on the property for the removal of old soils.” Farinon said these two issues were impediments for the developer, REpurpose Properties. She said she would bring the commission up to speed later in the evening.
As promised, Farinon presented an invoice to the commission for site and document reviews completed by their peer review consultants Nover Armstrong of Carver in the amount of $4,000 for the planned 22-duplex residential project. She assured Conway that, although there had been a number of continuances granted, forward movement on the application had been taking place behind the scenes. She said she was confident things were moving in the right direction.
Also requesting and receiving a continuation was Steve Long of Borrego Solar Systems for a proposed solar array planned for 75 Vaughan Hill Road.
Jeffrey Cordeiro, Jr., 296 Walnut Plain Road, came before the commission with a Request for Determination of Applicability for the construction of a gravel driveway and parking area. After explaining his sensitivity towards environmental issues and wetlands regulations due to his career as a member of the Army Corps of Engineers, a position he still holds today, he said that dead trees and trash left behind by the previous owners would be removed. Cordeiro also explained that the driveway and parking area within the 100-foot buffer zone would have a minimum amount of loam scraped away and reused around the property. Cordeiro received a Negative determination with standard conditions.
Farinon gave her quarterly financial report that noted the Notice of Intent Fund stood at $31,000 – funds she said could be used for any activities associated with enforcing the Wetlands Protection Act. The stipend provided in the town budget was $2,014. She qualified her figures by saying that salaries were not part of her report.
Farinon also reminded the commission and the public that the Green Communities Public Forum is scheduled for September 27 with presentations taking place at 3:00 pm and again later that evening at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Council on Aging. She urged the public to attend and learn how the program will help to identify ways to conserve energy in new construction and in some commercial structures. She said that adoption of the new building “Stretch Code” was an integral part of the program and would be on the Fall Special Town Meeting warrant.
Special Town Meeting is scheduled for November 19.
Conway asked Farinon how it was going on securing applicants for vacancies on the commission. Farinon said the vacancies had been posted, but the search continues. Anyone interest in learning more about the Conservation Commission vacancies may contact Farinon at 508-763-5421 or visit www.rochestermaconservation.com.
The next meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission is scheduled for October 2 at 7:00 pm in the Rochester Town Hall meeting room.
Rochester Conservation Commission
By Marilou Newell