On Tuesday,Rochester’s Planning Board began a review of a proposal for a three-lot Definitive Subdivision on an 8.67-acre parcel at 19 County Road.
Robert Esposito, engineer for the petitioners Robert and Christine Murphy, explained that one lot will be for the existing house lot. The two new lots would also be for four-bedroom residential housing. The parcel is close to 0 Mary’s Pond Road to the rear and is near the Wareham town line. There are few trees, the lots are mostly grass and gravel, and the parcel is very flat and will need minor grading. A road measuring approximately 350 feet and a water drainage system between lots two and three are being proposed. He has sent a letter to the Wareham Water Commission to place a fire hydrant at the cul-de-sac.
Planning Board Chair Arnold Johnson responded with a long list of requirements for when the hearing continues at the panel’s next meeting. He told Esposito the list of waivers needs to be longer. Esposito will want waivers of the requirements for a traffic study and a tree-cutting plan. The application will need to specify that the road will be private, and a Homeowners Association Agreement will need to be submitted for that street.
Applicant Robert Murphy pushed back against needing such an agreement so soon. He said he doesn’t know who will ultimately buy the lots. “We’re just selling to a contractor,” he said.
Johnson explained the application needs a Homeowners Association Agreement with specifics that will be transferred to whomever buys or sells the property. This will protect the town against liability when a flooding problem occurs.
The board ended discussion by continuing the hearing to August 26.
In other action, the board also continued until August 26 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. The panel also continued to that date the Special Permit and Site Plan Review hearing for the construction of floating and ground-mounted solar arrays at 53 Dexter Lane. For both projects, the board also extended their decision deadlines to September 30.
The board canceled its regularly scheduled next meeting, which would have been held on August 5. The Rochester Planning Board’s next meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 26 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Planning Board
By Michael J. DeCicco