The Rochester Planning Board began its meeting Tuesday by endorsing a plan to allow farming underneath the solar arrays at 109 Neck Road as a minor change rather than one that requires a new public hearing.
The applicant’s representative, Hank Moinet, attending the meeting on Zoom, said the plan is to plant rye grass in the winter and other types in other seasons. He said he was appearing before the board to see whether the new plan would be judged as a major change, which would require posting a new public hearing for a new permit, or a minor change which would be more of a procedural approval change.
The board unanimously approved the new cropping plan as a minor change after noting an extensive plan that excludes grazing animals has been submitted with the request for a decision. Chair Arnold Johnson said the fire chief was concerned that winter grass could dry out and cause a fire hazard. Moinet said he could live with a condition that the grass be regularly mowed.
Next, the board reviewed new information on the plan for a floating and ground-mounted solar array at 53 Dexter Lane before ultimately continuing its Site Plan Review and Special Permit hearing until October 28. Project representative Sarah Sterns of Beals and Thomas Engineering reported that floating panels have been removed from the northern end of the project site. The height of the panels is being reduced by 2 feet. A more extensive screening plan will include an olive-green stockade fence behind a raised berm with a long row of evergreens and other trees.
Abutter Lena Finch of 70 Parlowtown Road re-enforced her past concerns about the project’s impact on her and her husband’s property. She wanted to know what happens when the fence blows down in a storm. She said the glare of the panels would directly hit her home. “My concern is safety and glare,” she said. “If it isn’t properly screened, it will impact the value of our property.”
Both Planning Board members and the applicants’ representatives responded that the screening would work and be durable.
“I think this proposed screening is the best possible,” said Johnson, who asked the applicant if there will be screening around the battery storage area as well. Sterns said yes.
After reviewing new information, the board continued to October 28 the Site Plan Review hearing for a 68-unit, age-55-and-over, senior-living apartment building at 22 Cranberry Highway within Rochester Crossroads.
Joseph Sanda, representing developer Ken Steen Realty, revealed that, after reviewing notes from the town’s consulting engineer, Ken Motta, the apartment building with 68 units for residents ages 55 and up on a 24,000-square-foot lot has been enlarged by 20 feet. The water drainage will now connect to the other developments on the lot. Three hydrants will be installed. Fellow Steen representative Phil Cordeiro cautioned they are responding to Motta’s penciled notes. Motta’s written comments and more documentation on easements and other expected obligations will be filed soon.
In other action, the board continued to its November 10 meeting the Definitive Subdivision application hearing for a plan to turn an 8.67-acre parcel at 19 County Road into three lots, involving a plan to retain the existing house lot and create two new lots for additional four-bedroom residential housing.
The Rochester Planning Board’s next meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 27 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Planning Board
By Michael J. DeCicco