Rochester’s Planning Board began its meeting Tuesday with further review of a proposal to modify the Special Permit and Groundwater Protection District Special Permit for Cushman Road Solar, Cushman Road, a plan to construct additional sub-drainage improvements within the existing driveway off of Robinson Road.
Board Chair Arnold Johnson explained members have visited the site out of concern over the Hutchins property where utility piping must be properly covered and graded per the property owner’s requests. This was all they had to focus on until “at the last minute” they heard the project managers also wanted to address easement concerns lodged by the neighboring Koczera property owners, Johnson said.
This led the board to continue the hearing until its next meeting after Johnson said he wanted the Koczeras’ input as to whether they agree with the plan changes. He also asked project engineer Joseph Harrison, who attended the meeting on Zoom, for full-sized plans of all the changes. Johnson said the small size plans he was reviewing were not adequate. “I left my seeing dog home tonight,” he quipped.
Next, the board approved a plan a land swap between 194 and 198 Burgess Avenue by endorsing the project’s Approval Not Required application. Both properties are owned by members of the Britto family and the plan here is to build a new garage where there is adequate space.
The Planning Board then voted to recommend the Zoning Bylaw Amendment article on the May 19 Annual Town Meeting warrant that would revise the 40R Smart Growth Development District on Cranberry Highway to add a new Townhouse sub-district and expand the district to encompass an additional parcel after a public hearing on the proposal. Johnson explained two A-form lots outside the district needed to be added to it they may be more viable financing-wise.
The Board spent the most time on its last agenda. Snipatuit Estates Marc Wilson is proposing a land swap from a permanent open space portion of the development so another house lot can be built there. Wilson’s attorney Robert Pellegrini said he wanted to know from the Planning Board what kind of filing should be done for this request.
Board members responded with resistance to the idea. Board member John DiMaggio said he didn’t like setting the precedence of changing a ‘permanent’ property to something else. Board member Ben Bailey, attending the meeting on Zoom, said it was a fraud to portray the land being swapped as being worthy or of equal value, as Pelligrini characterized the move. “I am totally opposed to putting another house on Snipatuit Pond and so will the neighbors and town residents,” Bailey said. Johnson instructed Pelligrini to have properties under consideration be marked and flagged so the board can conduct a site visit.
In other action, the board appointed the new Town Planner, Michaela Shoemaker, as the town’s At-Large SRPEDD commissioner.
The Rochester Planning Board’s next meeting will be on Tuesday, May 13 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Planning Board
By Michael J. DeCicco