Rochester Town Planner Steve Starrett alluded to a new real estate interest in the Limited Commercial District during the Rochester Planning Board meeting on October 16, forested property that was once the proposed location for a contentious solar farm plan that ultimately failed to come to fruition.
Starrett told the board with some reserve that a real estate company inquired about the parcel, which is located within the town center Historic District; he did confirm that the business interest was not for a solar farm.
During a follow-up after the meeting, Starrett said the broker had expressed an interest in the property and asked Starrett, “So, what could we do with it?”
Whoever it is, said Planning Board Chairman Arnie Johnson, they better be prepared to conduct an archeological survey.
“That’s what stopped it,” said Johnson.
Starrett listened with interest, as he assumed the town planner position well after the 2015 NextSun Energy solar project that garnered a wave of opposition from residents.
“That’s actually turtle habitat over there, too,” added Johnson before giving Starrett a brief history of the rise and fall of the solar project plan.
As Johnson put it, the “pissing match” between the Massachusetts Historical Commission and the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program was what eventually halted the project. The Massachusetts Historical Commission wanted to dig holes for an archeological survey, but the NHESP opposed the digging due to the presence of endangered turtles and the site being designated as a turtle habitat.
“They were fighting amongst themselves and it killed it, so whoever… will face the same issue,” said Johnson.
Starrett explained that as it stands now, very few things could feasibly done with the over 10-acre lot that could be potentially lucrative and also be approved by all the parties involved in the process.
In other matters, the board reviewed its draft decision to grant approval to Rochester Farms, LLC owned by Craig Canning for a large-scale solar farm off Marion Road. The board will take a formal vote during a special meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 31.
The public hearing for an age-restricted housing development on Rounseville Road beside Plumb Corner has again been continued until the November 12 meeting at the applicant’s request.
The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for October 31 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.
Rochester Planning Board
By Jean Perry