The Rochester Conservation Commission moved to resolve an outstanding public hearing related to a Notice of Intent application submitted by SEMASS Partnership in their remote meeting held on July 21.
The application was submitted after SEMASS Partnership carried out emergency tree trimming in order to protect overhead wires and fiberoptic cables that connect the SEMASS and Eversource switchyards. Upon their review of the application in the previous meeting, the Rochester Conservation Commission told Paul Shamoian, the representative for SEMASS, that a maintenance plan for the upkeep of the trees surrounding the site should be created.
Shamoian explained that since the previous meeting he had worked to create a new maintenance plan with SEMASS in order to guarantee that proper procedures would be followed in future tree trimming. “This is a proactive maintenance plan,” Shamoian told commission members. “SEMASS will monitor the area for insect-infected and damaged trees around the wires.”
The proposed plans would require semiannual inspections by SEMASS personnel to closely monitor the growth of trees around the wires. These inspections would prevent any kind of emergency tree cutting in the future and allow ample time for the commission to review any proposed tree trimming that might take place on the site. Each proposed trimming will be internally logged by SEMASS and follow guidelines that are currently used by Eversource to maintain the overhead wires that run on their property.
Chairman Michael Conway showed support for the proposal, but asked that a stipulation be added. His approval of the proposal was predicated on the condition that these semiannual reports conducted by SEMASS be submitted to the commission so it, too, can monitor the growth of the trees.
Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon advocated for the maintenance plans and commended the commission for asking SEMASS to develop the proposal. “The commission wisely recommended that SEMASS take advantage of the permit to cut all trees along the fiberoptic line,” said Farinon. “It’s not common that a conservation commission will advocate for cutting trees, but in this instance, they were ornamental trees doing more harm than good.”
Shamoian agreed to provide the reports to the commission, so that it can monitor the site more closely. With that, the Rochester Conservation Commission voted to approve the maintenance plans.
Phil Cordeiro, representing Steen Realty and Developments, came before the Conservation Commission to provide updates to the proposed development on Cranberry Highway. Cordeiro has been working closely with Rochester’s Review Engineer, Henry Nover.
“We have provided a response with our comments to the peer review conducted by Henry Nover,” said Cordeiro. “At this point, the majority of notes relate to our groundwater analysis.”
According to Cordeiro, there have been idiosyncrasies on the plans relating to the site’s stormwater release basins and overflow areas. Though Nover did not have sufficient time to provide written feedback to the updated plans, he did convey that Cordeiro has been working to address his comments.
Even with his efforts, Cordeiro admitted to the commission that there is still a great deal of work to be done before the plans can move forward. The meeting on July 21 marked the fifth time that Steen Realty has met with the commission in relation to this proposed development.
The commission voted to continue this Notice of Intent filing until their meeting scheduled for August 18 to provide Cordeiro and Nover more time to work on resolving any conflicts they may have pertaining to the proposal.
Regarding a Notice of Intent filing from June 16, Greg Carey of Clean Engineering Collective provided updates to the commission relating to a solar-array development on Sarah Sherman Road. “Since our last meeting, we have made a number of changes to our plans as a result of feedback from the commission and from Agent Farinon,” Carey told the commission.
The commission visited the proposed solar site last week in order to gain a clearer understanding of the proposal. Carey explained that the site visit was helpful and his updated plans increased buffer areas to the surrounding wetland areas to address commission concerns.
Steve Kohm, of Prime Engineering, who is working on the proposal, amended the plans to remain outside of the 100-foot wetlands buffer zone as much as the site could allow. In addition, his new plans drastically change the location of the equipment and transformer pads to be entirely outside of the buffer zone. Kohm further instructed test pits to be dug on the site to demonstrate where groundwater is located and confirm the soil types at the site.
The commission showed support for the plans, but Carey and Kohm are still facing delays. Their proposal will have to be approved by the Rochester Planning Board before their work can continue.
The commission voted to continue the Notice of Intent filed by Carey until their next meeting set to be held on August 3. The next Rochester Conservation Commission meeting is set to be held remotely over the Zoom platform.
Rochester Conservation Commission
By Matthew Donato