The Rochester Planning Board on Tuesday approved a minor modification to the site plan review approval for a 68-unit senior living apartment building at Rochester Crossroads, 22 Cranberry Highway, but not before questioning who is controlling the massive series of projects being planned there.
That area of Cranberry Highway also includes the recent development of townhouses, condominiums, a warehouse and the new Seasons convenience store. With these projects in mind, Planning Board chair Arnold Johnson asked the senior apartment developer Ken Steen, “Who’s master planning that whole parcel? It’s getting very fragmented. Give us a level of comfort here. Who is keeping their eye on the ball of the whole project?”
“It’s only us in charge,” said Steen, attending the meeting on Zoom. He clarified that he is referring to most of the roadway in and around the development complex.
Steen is modifying the plans for his project by moving the original access road to Route 28 and altering the ring road around the development. He clarified that he is not involved with the townhomes or the warehouse project, but he has aided the condo developer Alfonso Built Homes with road development there. His brother is the contractor building the condo road, he said. “I’m keeping an eye on that. But I can’t overly control Alfonso. But there is no lack of communication with peer review on road conditions.”
“Will the road at Route 28 be paved?” Johnson asked. Steen answered that it will all be paved to 250 feet from Route 28. He said the delay is due to problems approving Alfonso’s septic system plan. Johnson questioned whether there will be multiple ways to get in and out of the townhomes. Steen said yes. The vote that resulted unanimously approved Steen’s road modification as minor, with four conditions related to road design.
In other action, the board accepted the withdrawal of an Approval Not Required filing for a plan to create a back lot subdivision with one new residential lot at 83 Hiller Road, as requested by the applicants, Michael and Mary Fitzgerald.
The board continued to September 22 its site plan review hearing for Walnut Plain Road Solar, 0 Walnut Plain Road.
The board continued to October 13 the site plan review hearing for High Street Solar, Site B, at 0 High Street, the northerly portion of the 20-acre project close to Mayflower Lane.
The Rochester Planning Board’s next scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, September 22, at 7:00 pm at the town office building, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Planning Board
By Michael J. DeCicco