Representatives of The Pines at Hathaway Pond spoke to the full Rochester Planning Board at its regular meeting Tuesday evening about obtaining a final release for their remaining four units. In a misunderstanding, the representatives believed that the building of infrastructure on the land would satisfy the Planning Board in exchange for the release.
“They had a [catch] basin to build that has since been built, but there was still some landscaping in the plan to be done,” Chairman Arnold Johnson said. “Those four units would be released contingent that they meet the entire plan, be it landscaping, be it infrastructure, be it roads.”
The Planning Board discussed potentially reworking the covenant so that they could release all four units.
“We don’t want to make it messier,” board member Susan Teal said.
Ultimately, the board voted to release two of the units, with the developer to select which this week, while it will hold the remaining two units to ensure that the developer fully realizes his plans for The Pines at Hathaway Ponds. Board member Gary Florindo abstained from the vote.
“If it was in the plan that we approved, then we have to hold you to it,” Johnson told the representatives.
His words were echoed by board member John DeMaggio.
“We have to hold them to the plan. Consistency is key,” DeMaggio said.
In its other business, the Planning Board discussed the right-to-farm bylaw, which it is in the process of preparing. Currently, the board has two model bylaw documents.
Teal made a motion, that did not carry, to accept the model with the understanding that there were three potential areas for revision: the soil board, the water-protection overlay district, and the disclosure notices.
“I don’t think we need a motion, we have the understanding of the board,” Johnson said. “On Thursday morning we’ll get the model bylaw and the one we found on the computer today to [Town Council].”
After the review process by Town Council, the bylaw documents would go before the Board of Selectmen, who would direct them to the Planning Board for another review process by public hearing.
In its third and final act of business, the Planning Board selected a date and time for its site visit of the Little Quittacas Solar Project, which is located off North Avenue.
“Usually we don’t conduct the site visit before the informal meeting,” Johnson said, “but I think because of the size and location of the project, it would be smarter to have the site visit done before our discussion … to get a vision for this project, which has great frontage.”
Board members looked over the draft plans for the solar farm, which raised many questions about the location and maintenance of indigenous trees.
“They said they’re going to have better plans when they come to us for their informal meeting,” Johnson said.
The next Rochester Planning Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 24 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall.
By Anne Smith