Worried neighbors of BWC Snows Pond LLC’s plan to build a solar-energy array on Cushman Road returned to the Town Hall hearing room Tuesday as Rochester’s Planning Board met once again regarding the project’s Special Permit and Site Plan Review application.
The petitioner’s representative, Andrew Hamel, said he is in the midst of following up on the second review of the Cushman Road plans by the town’s consulting engineer Ken Motta. Also, at present, he said, he “owes” the town Conservation Commission a response to one of the conditions that board has placed on the project.
The Planning panel ultimately continued the hearing to the next meeting on February 13 to give Motta time to finish his report. But first the neighbors had more concerns to address.
Referring to a recent newspaper report, abutter Claudette Tobin noted the Wareham Planning Board recently denied a solar-array project planned for the area of Charge Pond Road due to the setbacks required from the pond. Similarly, the Snows Pond project is very close to the Mattapoisett River, she said. “Can you guarantee there will be no groundwater contamination from this project?” she asked.
The answer to whether contamination will occur with the type of battery storage system that Snows Pond LLC is planning is an unknown at this time, Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson said. “But the Mattapoisett River Valley (Water Protection Advisory Committee) has signed off on this,” he added.
Neighbor Melissa Sherman-Morris, referencing the same news story, noted the Wareham board took the plan for a battery system off the table because of fear of groundwater contamination.
Johnson said Rochester is now working on regulations to better control battery storage near an aquifer. Before motioning for the continuance, he added that unfortunately, state regulations have made solar operations something towns must approve. “Marion denied them twice and were sued over it twice,” he said.
BWC Snows Pond LLC’s application is to build a solar-energy array on 12.55 acres of a 31-acre parcel at 0 Cushman Road in a Residential/Agricultural District and a Mattapoisett River Valley Watershed and Groundwater Protection District. The plan is to build there a 2.39 MW DC, single-axis, tracking, photovoltaic array, including DC-coupled battery energy storage.
In other action Tuesday, the Planning Board approved a Special Permit application to allow the subdivision of a back lot at 0 Mendell Road for residential use.
The panel continued until February 13 its hearing into the Site Plan Review application for JPF Development’s plan to build a 15-acre self-storage facility at Kings Highway and Route 28.
Town Planner Nancy Durfee announced the next Master Plan Workshop will be held on Thursday, January 25, at 6:00 pm at the COA Senior Center, Dexter Lane. The topics will be Land Use and Economic Development.
The Rochester Planning Board will meet next on Tuesday, February 13, at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Planning Board
By Michael J. DeCicco