The plan for the massive High Street Solar project, 0 High St., Rochester, has now been endorsed by both the Conservation Commission and the Planning Board.
The Rochester Planning Board signaled its approval of the Site Plan and Special Permit for High Street Solar, Site B, the northerly portion of the project, close to Mayflower Lane, by agreeing Tuesday to write a draft decision to be voted on at its next meeting.
In mid-September, the Conservation Commission approved a Positive Order of Conditions for the Notice of Intent application for the Site B work near wetlands. In July, the commission endorsed the plan for Site A, which is in the southerly portion of the property close to High Street itself. Meanwhile, the Planning Board considered High Street Solar Site A in August. The entire array will cover 23 acres of a 68-acre property.
Tuesday, before signaling its endorsement, the planning panel approved the waivers the developer requested and the performance bonds. The board will waive the requirements for traffic study data and reporting on tree sizes to be cut and landscaping plans. The demolition bond the High Street Solar must post was set at $910,000. The five-year water maintenance bond was set at $700 and a third bond performance bond was set at $36,000.
Next, the board was not as willing to approve the request to modify the definitive subdivision plan for the previously approved “Snipatuit Pond Estates” at Gerrish Road and Bishop Road, with a land swap of two open space parcels to create a 3.5-acre buildable lot.
Project applicant Robert Pellegrini began the discussion by noting he has been unable to find a conservation group to take the parcel being swapped out from open space to take it under a Conservation Restriction. He proposed setting the parcel under a Deed Restriction instead.
Board member Ben Bailey led the opposition to this plan, saying it is a cranberry bog and therefore not buildable. This would not be an equitable swap, and the board would be wrong to approve the plan without soil-sample proof that a house can be built there.
Board chairman Arnold Johnson said he was not as certain as Bailey but agreed the board needs more proof the lot is buildable. He proposed contacting town counsel for an opinion and asking what is deemed reasonable for such a swap. The board approved continuing the hearing to its next meeting.
Lastly, the board signaled endorsement of the special permit to divide an existing parcel into two separate housing lots at 72 Marion Road by agreeing to draft an approval decision. At its September meeting, the board learned the land might be in a groundwater protection district. Town Planner Michaela Shoemaker reported Tuesday that, according to her own research, the property is not in a groundwater district, freeing the board to approve it as is.
In other action, the board continued to October 27 its site plan review hearing for Walnut Plain Road Solar, 0 Walnut Plain Road, upon the applicant’s request.
The Rochester Planning Board’s next scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, October 27, at 7:00 pm at the Town Office Building, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Planning Board
By Michael J. DeCicco