Rochester’s Planning Board began its meeting Tuesday by reviewing a unique proposal to permit a floating solar array at 53 Dexter Lane.
In an informal discussion of the project with the board, Matt Swanberg of New Leaf Energy explained such a design is only allowed on man-made ponds. That means cranberry ponds used for agricultural purposes such as the Dexter Lane site qualifies. New Leaf Energy’s proposal is for a two-megawatt solar array with panels on a connected series of floating docks.
The board prepared Swanberg and his associate Annie Cornell for the formal application process that will follow with some tough questions. Board member Paul Carr asked, “what happens to this floating dock in August when the bog has lost its water?” “What materials will the docks be made of and how will they be anchored?” asked Michael Murphy. “How will the integrity of the electrical equipment be preserved?” asked vice chair Ben Bailey. Chairman Arnold Johnson noted children, and deer will encroach upon their equipment if it is not properly fenced in and asked that site plans include the site lines between the panels and nearby homes.
Swanberg said the docks will be installed with a special system that will account for how low the water levels can go, and the docks will be anchored to the bottom of the pond. He noted, however, that the company is reaching out to vendors as it irons out these details of its plan. He said in his next meeting with the board he will be willing to talk about a specific application and application fees.
In other action, the board voted to craft a draft decision for the Site Plan Review Permit application for the Eversource substation at 214 Rounsville Road. Upgrades are necessary to interconnect distributed generation facilities in town. Two factors, however, almost derailed this decision. Johnson, at first, wanted the hearing to be continued to its next meeting because the check for the project’s additional $4,1600 filing fee has not been received. Johnson and the other board members also objected to Eversource’s request that the company be allowed to not use bio-hydrological fluids in its construction equipment. This exemption would cause a hazard for residential wells if these fluids seep into the ground. “That is something we are not going to waive,” Johnson said.
Eversource representative Dan Higgins said he will seek a vendor that will be able to comply with this condition, though it won’t be easy. Fellow Eversource representative Heather Sykes successfully argued that the check was requested as soon as she was made aware of the fee, but a check from the Eversource corporate office takes time. The approval vote that resulted was unanimous.
The board also approved the Definitive Subdivision Plan application for 386 Snipatuit Road, a plan to divide 24 acres into one lot containing an existing home and outhouse on two acres and two other lots with frontage on a new roadway to be named Peter Crapo Cartway.
In response to a Notice of Intent to convert Chapter 41B forest land at 0 Walnut Plain Road, the board voted to recommend to the selectmen that the town not exercise its right of first refusal to purchase the property.
The Rochester Planning Board did not set its next meeting prior to adjournment.
Rochester Planning Board
By Michael J. DeCicco