Rochester’s Planning Board Tuesday approved requests to extend the special permits for two large-scale solar projects in town.
The request for a one-year extension of the Featherbed Lane South Solar Large-Scale Photovoltaic Special Permit and Groundwater Protection District Special Permit was brought up. Cushman Road Solar LLC and Gregory Sampson of Sullivan and Worcester LLC came for the same reason, said board chair Arnold Johnson, that Eversource’s substation for the facilities is not ready.
Cushman Road received the most push back, specifically from neighbors who complained the construction of underground utilities and manhole covers on the street would disturb their well and their ability to access their properties. Johnson said the developer has a right to work within the right of way of the easements it has been granted. The developer’s representative Greg Sampson said such details will be managed later in the construction project.
Next, a request to approve a preliminary three-lot subdivision plan at 19 County Road ended with the applicants Robert and Christine Murphy requesting to withdraw the plan without prejudice. This conclusion came after the board disapproved of the length and configuration of the entrance road. The Murphys submitted an updated plan with a shorter road after the original plan had been submitted.
The board then reviewed preliminary subdivision approval requests for 13 lots at 0 High Street, for single family dwellings with attached garage, driveway and associated clearing, grading, and utilities installation on two-acre lots that will utilize pieces of neighboring cranberry bogs.
The board approved lots of one, two, three, and four but extended its hearing into lots five, six, seven and eight until its next meeting. This conclusion came after the town council and the developer’s legal counsel agreed these lots are too close to Connet Woods. The board will have to decide if developing these lots is a minor or major change to that housing development.
This project drew several abutters who raised concerns about how the project will affect flooding, natural resources, and wildlife in their neighborhood, as it did when the project was before the Conservation Commission for Notice of Intents approvals. Johnson informed the abutters that these are concerns for other town boards and departments. Approval not Required lots like these give the Planning Board less controls at their disposal.
Lots 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 had not received board approval by press time.
The Rochester Planning Board’s next meeting will be Tuesday, December 10 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Planning Board
By Michael J. DeCicco