Although it doesn’t usually take a vote during the same meeting it reviews a draft decision, the Rochester Planning Board on August 13 found no reason not to for the relatively straightforward application filed by Covanta SEMASS for pollution controls at the solid waste to renewable energy facility at 141 Cranberry Highway.
The new pollution controls, slated for a number of phases over the next few years, will be located within the existing developed site and will not result in any substantial changes regarding the number of employees or the conditions of the site.
Planning Board Chairman Arnie Johnson said he added some language to the decision pertaining to some standard conditions that appear in all draft decisions that in this case do not apply, such as a road opening permit and some conditions related to drainage.
Johnson asked the board what it thought about taking a vote that night, given that a few board members were absent. After deciding that those members had attended the prior site visit and were present for the previous meetings to deliberate the application, the board favored a vote.
“They know what’s going on,” said board member Gary Florindo. “They were here with us for other meetings … so they all know what’s going on. We have enough members to make the vote on it right now.
“I don’t think any of us has any problems with this,” Florindo added.
The board voted to approve it.
In other business, the public hearing for a Special Permit for a Special Residential Development filed by REpurpose Properties for 0 Rounseville Road was continued until August 27 at the applicant’s request.
The public hearing for a large-scale solar Special Permit filed by SWEB Development USA was continued until August 27 at the applicant’s request. The location is 0 Marion Road owned by Rochester Farms, LLC.
The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for August 27 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.
Rochester Planning Board
By Jean Perry