Rochester’s Planning Board Tuesday informally reviewed a plan to construct a 20,000-square-foot building on New Bedford Road to restore, detail and store collectible cars.
Project engineer Bill Madden explained Briggs Hobby Barn is being built by Mark and Ashley Briggs for personal and not commercial use on a 10.9-acre parcel that was once the Gibbs Farm. A 20-foot-wide driveway will provide access from New Bedford Road, and the front gate will be 80 feet back from the road so large vehicles will not be halfway in the road when entering.
Screening and fencing will surround the property, said Madden. The latter will be a 4-inch cedar post fence on one side and a black-coated wire fence on the other. All water drainage will remain on site. The garage-like building will have four “man doors,” eight garage doors and an upstairs mezzanine and observatory.
Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson said the one thing missing from Madden’s paperwork so far is the spec sheet on the wall and lighting plan. Madden said that will come Thursday. He said that is when he will file the plan’s formal application. He noted that day is also when he will visit the Zoning Board of Appeals for that panel’s review of the project.
Prior to that review, the Planning Board approved the draft decision permitting the large-scale solar array planned for 13.7 acres of the rear parking lot at Rochester Memorial School.
Before the vote, Johnson questioned if the proper safeguards were in place for when the 2023-24 school year starts. The developer, Solect Energy Development, previously told the board it needs to do some of the construction after students will have begun classes. Solect representative Steven Gregory, attending the meeting via Zoom, noted the board has received a site plan showing how the construction work staging area will be fenced off during school hours.
Johnson said the board will have to refer this plan to the town’s public safety personnel for their review. The Planning Board nonetheless approved the project permit and the Groundwater Protection District permit.
In other action, the board responded to a Notice of Intent to sell Chapter 61A agricultural and horticultural land for residential use off of Mary’s Pond Road by recommending the Select Board not exercise its right to purchase the property held under 61A regulations.
The Planning Board’s next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 23, at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Planning Board
By Michael J. DeCicco