The Rochester Planning Board on Tuesday, October 27, denied a petition to allow a land swap modification to the definitive subdivision plan for the previously approved “Snipatuit Pond Estates” at Gerrish Road and Bishop Road.
The plan to swap two open space parcels within the development to create a 3.5-acre buildable lot failed to pass after board members and other town officials raised doubts that it would be an even exchange.
“I don’t see the land conservation gain in this,” Russ Keeler of the Rochester Land Trust said. “One lot is wild and unused. The other is being used. The swap has little conservation value.”
Project Representative Robert Pellegrini reported at the last Planning Board meeting that he has been unable to find a conservation group to take the parcel being swapped to become open space and place it under a Conservation Restriction. That is because the land is a cranberry bog; one state agency won’t even consider a Conservation Restriction on a cranberry bog. He proposed placing the parcel under a Deed Restriction instead, though it would last less time than a conservation restriction, only 30 years.
On Tuesday, Planning Board Chair Arnold Johnson, referencing these facts, said, “The original plan stamps it as permanent open space. But it’s in private hands. Open has to be accessible to the public, not in private ownership.”
“I’m against a [Conservation Restriction],” developer Mark Wilson said, “because it restricts me. I prefer an agricultural restriction.” He added that he is struggling to work with state lawmakers to make that happen.
“I’m not sure what we’re getting for conservation land,” board member Ben Bailey said. “It will stay as a bog.” Bailey then moved to deny the vote, and the board unanimously approved the denial.
The board started Tuesday’s meeting with an informal discussion of Highland Development’s storage building project at 667 County Road and the need for a modification of its landscaping design. The board ultimately approved the modifications as minor rather than major and set a site visit for November 6 at 4:30 pm.
Next, the board approved the ANR (Approval Not Required) application to divide an existing lot at 72 Marion Road into two separate building lots. Project representative Matthew Leone said the parcel is under eight acres. The back lot will be two acres; the other will be 5.6 acres.
In other action, the board continued to November 10 the Site Plan Review and Special Permit hearing for Walnut Plain Road Solar, 0 Walnut Plain Road, upon the applicant’s request.
The board approved and officially signed the High Street Solar Site B Special Permit and Site Plan Review approval and the Back Lot Subdivision permit for 72 Marion Road.
The Rochester Planning Board’s next scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, November 10, at 7:00 pm at the town office building, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Planning Board
By Michael DeCicco