Rochester’s Planning Board Tuesday allowed a proposal for a floating solar array at 53 Dexter Lane to proceed from informal discussion to the formal application stage, but not before lodging a complaint against the plan’s expansion.
In an informal discussion of the project in a prior board meeting, Matt Swanberg of New Leaf Energy explained such a design is only allowed on man-made ponds. That means cranberry ponds used for agricultural purposes such as the Dexter Lane site qualify. New Leaf Energy’s original proposal was for a two-megawatt solar array with the panels on a connected series of floating docks.
On Tuesday, Swanberg said ground-mounted solar panels are now part of the plan for what he called “a slightly larger array.” Board member John DiMaggio objected to that term. “Your output is three-times the size now. Not ‘slightly above,'” he said.
DiMaggio pointed out that the floating arrays will generate 1,933 kw of power and the ground-mounted panels another 6,000 kw. “You’re adding a lot,” he said.
Chairman Arnold Johnson said his concern continues to be screening from the view of abutters. Swanberg said New Leaf is not planning only floating fencing around the floating array to get that fencing closer to those panels. But the ground-mounted ones will be fenced in. At the time of the formal application, Swanberg said additional “simulations” on fencing plans will be presented.
Johnson then asked if the array’s battery-energy storage system will tie into the same utility substation that other solar energy installations in town are planning to tie into. Swanberg said he cannot answer that question right now. He added that question is for other experts on his team.
Johnson concluded by instructing Swanberg to see the board’s administrator, Dawn DiMaggio, about the formal application and the $5,000 application fee. “You may move forward with the formal application process,” he said.
Next, the board informally reviewed a proposed preliminary subdivision plan at 34 Doctor Braley Road. The plan here is to divide the residential lot into two, one with the existing house and the other with a new dwelling unit placed above barn-like storage below it. Johnson instructed the applicant’s engineering consultant, Jeff Youngquist, and petitioner Dawn Allen to return with their requests for waivers in writing when they file a formal application.
In other action, the board approved a plan for five lots at Rochester Crossroads at Cranberry Highway and County Road, endorsing the project’s Approval Not Required application. The applicant’s engineering consultant, Joseph Sanda, said the plan here is to subdivide six existing lots into eight, six of which will be buildable and two of which will not because they lack the minimally required frontage.
Johnson informed the board that these lots encompass the area the May 19 Town Meeting will be seeking to rezone to expand the Smart Growth Overlay District there. He explained each lot will be built by a separate developer, which will create better financing for developing each. The 508 residential units that will result will still count towards the town’s 10% affordable housing stock requirement.
The board continued until its next meeting a proposal to modify the Special Permit and Groundwater Protection District Special Permit for Cushman Road Solar, Cushman Road. The new plan here is to construct additional sub-drainage improvements within the existing driveway off Robinson Road. Johnson explained this new requirement is that the utility pipes must be encased in concrete and must now be newly designed.
The board introduced the new Town Planner, Michaela Shoemaker, as she attended her first Planning Board meeting.
The Rochester Planning Board’s next meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 22, at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Planning Board
By Michael J. DeCicco