TheRochester Planning Board met briefly Tuesday to continue until its next meeting the Special Permit and Site Plan Review hearing for the proposal from Logging Swamp Solar dba ReWild Renewables to install a solar panel array on 49 acres in the area of 600 Snipatuit Road, a property located within a Residential-Agricultural District and partially […] Read more »
The Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals met on June 26 and approved three Special Permit Requests. The request for a Special Permit at the 420 Cove Road property owned by James D. Pierre for the construction of the new house in a flood zone with flood zone compliant foundation and connections to town water […] Read more »
The Marion Planning Board on Monday met briefly and expressed concern about the Zoning Board of Appeals’ (ZBA) split decision to allow an industrial building to turn into housing – Sippican Holdings LLC at 14 Barnabas Road. Board members at the Police Station meeting room acknowledged that the ZBA can issue a variance if […] Read more »
Facing a roomful of concerned abutters voicing their concerns, Rochester’s Select Board Monday approved a Class II Used Car Dealers License for Briggs Hobby Barn, which stores and repairs collectible automobiles, trucks, and other motor vehicles at 618 New Bedford Road on land within the historic district. The expansive, two-building business owned by […] Read more »
The Marion Finance Committee at its June 25 meeting approved three Reserve Fund transfers to help three different departments pay for unexpected expenses in Fiscal Year 2025. With a winter that did not bring much snow, a request from the Department of Public Works for $3,495 for snow removal drew some questions from Finance […] Read more »
Rochester’s Conservation Commission began its meeting Tuesday by swiftly endorsing the Notice of Intent application to build a single-family home within the 100-foot buffer zone at 28 Marion Road with a Positive Order of Conditions. This first agenda item of the night was approved quickly because the commission had received what it lacked from petitioner […] Read more »
Farmer Mike King has been attempting to secure municipal approval(s) to open the now-closed farmstand on North Street using the Dover Amendment. In part, the Dover Amendment law exempts “agricultural, religious, and educational uses from certain zoning restrictions. By limiting what zoning requirements apply to land and structures that hold these uses, the Dover […] Read more »
Rochester’s Park Commission focused its meeting Monday on spending the remainder of its funds for FY25 before the new fiscal year, FY26, starts on July 1. The commission approved spending $4,999 to replace 150 feet of fencing at Gifford Park with a durable vinyl one. Next, the board granted another $2,980.12 to start fertilizing […] Read more »
Rochester Affordable Housing, Inc. (RAHI) hosted a June 30 informational workshop on Massachusetts’ new law allowing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s) by right on residential properties across the commonwealth at the Council on Aging Senior Center. The goal was to answer Rochester residents’ questions on what this new law means to them and settle their […] Read more »
The Conservation Commission at its June 25 meeting endorsed a project initiated by the Sippican Lands Trust (SLT) that will use herbicides at the Brainard Marsh to target what the trust calls one of the worst invasive species – phragmites. The commission applauded the effort and acknowledged that the effort will help restore the […] Read more »