Rochester’s Zoning Board of Appeals on November 14 approved the installation of an at-home machinist business at 84 High St.
Devan Spellman, who owns a machinist shop in Acushnet, has a purchase and sales agreement with the High Street property’s current owner. He requested a special permit to install a similar shop in a 1600-square-foot garage at the Rochester address.
Spellman said his operation in Rochester would include him, two other part-time employees, and his wife who is a nurse by trade and his accountant. He has no plans to expand his business, he said. His machinist work will be done mostly off-site, but he needs the Rochester shop for some of that work. He added that he will have few visitors, and he does not store any materials outside.
To the point that the property also includes cranberry bogs, Spellman said, “I’m looking to do more farming.”
He explained that what he does is make machine parts out of metal. He started making automobile parts for classic cars. Now he’s branched off to other clients such as the machinery for a box making company.
Asked about the noise his business generates, Spellman noted he has no complaints from neighbors about his Acushnet shop. He keeps his shop doors closed and plans to insulate the building.
Board member Richard Cutler asked what his plan is for the entire 6.55-acre property. “We hope to do more than cranberries,” Spellman said. “But we plan to keep it as a farming use.”
An abutter at 66 High Street asked how far the business will be able to expand. Board Chair David Arancio answered that the need for a road or other expansion would require Spellman to return to the board.
The board granted the special permit for the 84 High St. machinist shop with the condition that any expansion would require a new permit. Also, there shall be no more than three full-time employees. Hours will be restricted to Monday through Saturday 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. All parking shall be on-site. No materials shall be stored outdoors. Shop doors will remain closed. The property’s existing special permit for an Airbnb shall be null and void when the machine shop opens.
Next, the board reviewed a request for a variance from the town’s front setback requirement for the construction of a 16×24-foot storage shed in the front yard at 324 High St. This hearing was continued to the board’s next meeting on December 12 after board members spotted an area on property owner Stephen Cobb’s plans that would allow him to place the shed to the side rear of his property rather than in front of his home, a location town bylaw does not permit.
Cobb said placing the shed there does not provide easy access for his grandchildren’s play area and is too close to his property line abutting wetlands. He said he has eight grandchildren, and four of them visit every day.
Arancio, however, echoed his fellow board members. “I like that alternative site better,” he said. “It goes better there.” Arancio instructed Cobb to check with the Conservation Commission agent as to whether placing the shed at the board’s preferred location would be a wetlands bylaw violation.
He also asked Cobb to return with a design plan stamped by a Professional Engineer to certify the shed’s proposed location. To the latter point, Cobb, an engineer with D.W. White, said he did not want the expense of getting the plans stamped until he was sure the board would approve it but will do so now.
The Zoning Board of Appeals’ next meeting will be Thursday, December 12 at 7:15 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Zoning Board
By Michael J. DeCicco