Covanta Clean Energy cleared another hurdle in their quest to construct a CNG (compressed natural gas) Fueling Station in Rochester as the Zoning Board of Appeals approved a special permit for construction on Thursday.
Just two nights earlier, the Planning Board approved a Site Plan Review for the project after months of back and forth between Covanta and the Board, and the approval from the Zoning Board puts them one step closer to breaking ground.
The special permit allows for the installation of the facility and public use of it.
According to Covanta representative Larry Swartz, the fueling station will consist of two unattended islands served by two compressors. Fuel will be available for purchase via card swipe, and security cameras and fire alarms will be monitored from a preexisting control room at a nearby SEMASS site. Covanta is a partner of SEMASS.
“I can’t see anything that’s going to cause any heartburn,” said Chair Richard Cutler.
Covanta representatives said at the Planning Board meeting Tuesday that a construction date has not yet been set, since they still have to go through the state permitting process before ground can be broken, weather permitting.
In other news, the board approved a variance that will allow for the construction of a home for property owned by Lisa Holden on Snow’s Pond Road.
The move is an effort to make the lot, which contains a portion of wetlands, buildable should the property be sold. There are no current plans for construction on the lot.
“It allows them to have some value on this property,” said Engineer Richard Charon, who presented the plans to the Board.
The Board approved the variance, with a restriction that there is no further subdivision on the lot other than this original division. Originally, Charon requested that the Board remove the wetlands from that portion of the property; however, when members of the Board expressed dissatisfaction, Charon retracted that part of the request.
By Nick Waleka
