Rochester expects to produce a trail guide for local walkers and hikers in 2012, the Rochester Conservation Commission discussed at their meeting on January 3, 2012.
The booklet will first be distributed to members of the three organizations behind the effort, including the Trustees of the Reservations, Rochester Lands Trust and the Open Space Acquisition Commission. Additional copies will be available to the public and available at the Rochester Town Hall and possibly distributed at town meeting. The Old Colony Vocational Technical High School will handle the printing of the booklet.
“This is a great example of a collaborative effort,” said Laurell Farinon, Rochester Conservation Agent. The text of the guide is complete, with the gathering of maps now in progress.
In other business, the board discussed a Notice of Intent filed by Eduardo and Maria Gouveia for property located at 31 Edwards Lane. The Gouveias propose to construct a 24-by-24-foot garage within the 100 foot buffer zone to a bordering vegetated wetland. The Gouveias representative, Kevin Forgue of G.A.F. Engineering, requested a continuance, which the board agreed to schedule for January 17.
In reviewing the plans, board members had several questions including why an existing storage building wasn’t shown in the plan. Other information, including the actual width and amount of paved or stone area in the driveway, was also requested be shown.
The board also heard a request for a Certificate of Compliance for J. Michael Brides for the construction of a garage and deck within the 100-foot buffer zone to a bordering vegetated wetland. The board issued the certificate.
The board discussed a recent grant of $15,000 awarded to the town to assist in the Geographic Information System (GIS) of tracking data by digitalizing files, maps, reports and charts in the conservation commission files. Ms. Farinon said that her office is preparing information in an effort to get the bid specifications out to qualified contractors who can handle the scope of the project.
By Joan Hartnett-Barry