With no scheduled public hearings listed on the agenda, the Rochester Planning Board met May 12 to take care of routine business, namely to appoint a board representative to the Zoning Bylaw Review Committee.
Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson volunteered to take up the position temporarily, but suggested that board member Ben Bailey assume the position.
Bailey expressed concern about joining the committee as it has a hand in developing the town’s Open Space Plan, which is up for review in the near future. It is Bailey’s opinion that the town has enough open space as it is.
“I’d do that if they say they’re interested in that perspective,” Bailey said.
For now, Johnson will take the position as Bailey takes time to consider it.
Later in the meeting, the board discussed a prior site visit to Parlowtown Road in Rochester, where a path is to be considered for receiving “ancient way” status following an application, which has not yet been submitted.
An ancient way is a term used to define an area that has been used as a public road by either pedestrians or vehicles for at least 100 years. Following an application process by the property’s owner, the Planning Board then decides if the area meets the criteria through analysis of old maps dating back at least a century. This would help prove the age of the road and whether or not it was a public or private way.
“It stands on the applicant to prove it’s an ancient way,” Johnson explained.
Following this decision, the newly designated ancient way can be used as frontage. The board will take further action on this following an application.
Earlier in the meeting, the board looked over photos of the Little Quittacas Solar Project located at 33 North Avenue. The ensuing discussion was about how the vegetation in the area should be maintained, primarily if it should be reseeded with grass or allowed to “return to nature.”
Bailey reviewed the photos and suggested that, due to the shape of the terrain, which is sloped, and the quality of soil in Rochester, which he described as sandy and acidic, it was best to allow naturally occurring plants to thrive in that area. According to him, grasses planted in the area would not survive well, and by seeding the area in the spring, as opposed to the fall, it was likely to become infested with crabgrass.
The board welcomed new board member Chris Silveira, who won a seat on the board as a write-in candidate during the annual election.
The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for May 26 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.
By Andrew Roiter
