The Rochester Planning Board continued the public hearing for Renewable Energy LLC, developers of a large-scale solar farm slated for the historic center of Rochester, after the state ordered an archeological exploration of the property before approval of the project.
The Massachusetts Historic Commission, in a letter to the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs dated March 1, requested an archeological study be performed at the site that it deems an archeologically-sensitive area rich in history and likely peppered with artifacts and unmarked graves.
According to the letter, the property – once the location of the town’s first meeting house and an ancient Native American trail – is recorded and interpreted as an ancient Native American village.
Before the site plan review and permitting process can continue, the project must clear the state’s archeological survey, and the applicant requested a continuance of the public hearing, which the Planning Board scheduled for April 26.
Speaking of solar farms in the historic district of Rochester Center, Planning Board member Ben Bailey proposed the board work on an amendment to the Limited Commercial District bylaw that would essentially restrict any future large-scale ground-mounted solar farms from the Limited Commercial District, which lies within the Historic District. Bailey said he would like to get started so the bylaw amendment could appear on the June 8 Annual Town Meeting warrant.
The proposed amendment could seek to limit the energy production output of any proposed solar energy production installations to 25,000 kilowatts for the district and eliminate ground-mounted solar arrays.
“I don’t think you’ll get anybody in town who would say no to that,” said Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson.
Bailey, after consulting with town counsel, said the bylaw would have to avoid any limitations that could be construed as prohibiting solar farms in the town.
Johnson cautioned the board during a brief legal discussion on the matter, saying it is best to fully vet ideas and concerns with town counsel to avoid any “knee-jerk” proposals within the bylaw amendment that would not be lawful in the end.
Also during the meeting, the board opened the public hearing for Meadowatt, LLC, owner of 188-190 Marion Road, and its application to build a large-scale solar farm at the site.
The project requires a number of applications, including a Special Permit, a Scenic Highway Special Permit, and a Groundwater Protection District Special Permit.
The board held off on the waiver list, preferring to wait until the next hearing so the board could have time to review a report sent to them that day by the town’s contracted engineer, Ken Motta.
Engineer Robert Bersin went over the most recent plan that evening before abutters had a chance to ask questions.
There will be minimal tree cutting involved, with a select couple of “pretty poor” and “mangled” trees to be felled near the road. An existing residential house will remain if the Zoning Board of Appeals allows. The entire site will be fenced in using a plastic resin-based “stonewall,” and a gravel access road from the street will circle the perimeter of the solar arrays.
Johnson said some specifics must be addressed moving forward, such as stormwater and decommissioning of the site. Johnson also stipulated that, for the groundwater district permit, the plan must note specifics such as organic fertilizers can only be used, and no sludge-based fertilizer is permitted, which can contain heavy metals.
The chairman also referenced two waivers on Bersin’s list – the requirement of a detailed landscaping plan drafted by a landscape architect and a detailed maintenance plan, which Johnson said the board already denied during the applicant’s initial pre-submission informal conference.
“I think we’ll just hold the whole [waiver list] instead of breaking it down tonight,” said Johnson.
After noting the need to reconsider the planting materials, Bailey suggested the board come up with a handout for applicants to recommend trees and shrubs and other vegetation that are more deer-resistant and preferable to the board, to which the other board members agreed.
Planning Board member Chris Silveira asked Bersin to find some locations where the proposed fence was already in use so he could see it in real life.
“And there’s a ton of spelling and grammar errors in here,” Johnson said, adding that if he didn’t bring it up his grandmother would haunt him from the grave. “I would like to see them cleaned up, please.”
The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for April 26 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.
By Jean Perry