Rochester’s Conservation Commission Tuesday effectively slammed the brakes on a proposal to place a multitown conservation restriction on 241 acres of aquifer land from Acushnet to Mattapoisett that includes 13 acres at Red Brick Farms on the east side of Long Plain Road and the north side of Wolf Island Road.
The deal breaker was Buzzards Bay Coalition spokesperson Allen Decker’s explanation that the regional CR agreement will give Mattapoisett the water rights to the Rochester parcel under a coownership agreement with the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District. The regional CR, in fact, already has language that Mattapoisett alone will have the right to install up to four new wells on the property, he said.
Commission members complained that Rochester has lost the right to use its own water resources too many times over the decades, such as a century ago to the New Bedford Water Department. They were united in their refusal to sign the Red Brick Farms CR without more information, especially as to whether the CR can be rewritten to give Rochester rights to some of that water.
“Any chance this can be rewritten to get us a well?” commission member Ben Bailey asked.
“I don’t think we can rewrite the restriction at this point,” Decker responded.
Commission Chairman Christopher Gerrior told Decker the panel will not be able to sign the CR without more information from other boards as to its rights in this instance and more information from Decker himself.
Decker agreed to attend the commission’s next meeting on June 20 and asked for direction on what the commission needs from him. “If this derails a $6,000,000 conservation project, that will be a problem,” he said. “What can I do to get this group what it needs?”
“You can explore a way to include Rochester getting some of this water going to Mattapoisett,” Bailey said bluntly. “There is a disappointment across this town that Rochester has no right to its water, and that will continue to be the case.”
Prior to this issue, the commission approved a plan to construct a 119×50-foot steel farm building within 70 feet of a shoreline at 570 New Bedford Road. In response to a Request for Determination of Applicability, the board decided the project does not need wetland-regulations restrictions.
The commission also approved a plan to construct a new residence at 485 Neck Road with work to include grading for a portion of the patio and landscaping within a wetlands buffer zone with a standard Order of Conditions.
Gerrior announced that William Clapp has resigned from the Conservation Commission. Gerrior said Clapp has moved from the area, and the board is now actively seeking new commission members.
He also announced that the owner of 89 Box Turtle Drive was unable to appear or send his attorney to the June 6 meeting but has promised to appear at the board’s next meeting. The board voted against resuming fining him until after that meeting.
In the year-long dispute over the clearing of land there too close to wetlands without a permit at 89 Box Turtle Drive, the board had approved giving owner Doug Rose until June 6 to provide an acceptable restoration plan without being fined for his noncompliance.
The Conservation Commission set its next meeting for Tuesday, June 20, starting at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
By Michael J. DeCicco