Rochester’s Conservation Commission Tuesday approved Eastover Farm’s plan to construct a 70×120 square-foot, outdoor, sand, riding arena for equestrian use at 131 Hiller Road.
Jennifer Dubois of the Trustees of Reservations state conservation group that holds the Conservation Restriction on the farm properties explained to the commission in a Zoom presentation that an additional plan for the parcels is to allow parking across the street from 131 Hiller for overflow parking for farm events. She said her group “felt comfortable” allowing these new uses there and asked for the commission to also approve.
The commission endorsed the plan after Chairman Christopher Gerrior asked whether the new parking area will be altered in any way. Dubois said the area will remain as is. Vehicles will be asked to park on the grass. The resulting approval vote was unanimous.
In other public-hearing action, after several meetings featuring abutters’ concerns, the Conservation Commission approved an Order of Conditions for a plan to install two stone posts and a gate at the end of the driveway at 67 Old Schoolhouse Road.
In past ConCom meetings, abutters had expressed concern that the proposed design wouldn’t leave enough turnaround space for emergency vehicles. On September 3, applicant and 67 Old Schoolhouse Road resident Nicholas Araujo said he had met the Highway Surveyor (Jeff Eldridge) and the Fire Chief (Scott Weigel) at the site of the proposed work. As a result, he has decided to move the gate 10 feet away from its original position to allow room for emergency vehicles and garbage trucks. The commissioners approved the Order of Conditions after seeking Araujo’s agreement to submit modified updated plans as part of his paperwork.
The ConCom then approved the Notice of Intent to upgrade a failed septic system within the wetlands buffer zone at 501 Walnut Plain Road. The project’s engineering consultant explained a different system will compensate for being close to wetlands, a state-of-the-art denitrification system that will clean the water flow before it reaches the ground water.
In other business, the commission approved a Certificate of Compliance for the construction of an addition to an existing home at 590 New Bedford Road, after Conservation Agent Merilee Kelly reported the work had been completed in 2017.
The board granted a Certificate of Compliance certifying substantial completion of work by the Marion Water Department to install a temporary access path to the Town of Marion’s North Well on Mary’s Pond Road.
The commission approved a Certificate of Compliance for work that included filling approximately 2,400 square feet of land located within a wetlands buffer zone at 203 High Street, after Kelly reported the work there had been successfully finished in 1999.
The commission granted a Negative Determination of Applicability to wetland protection bylaws for work to clear trees and brush within the 100-foot buffer zone at 4 Bishop Road, after Kelly reported that the landowner wishes to clear small trees to within 50 feet before wetlands to plant grass. The plan will need no further commission action.
The next Rochester Conservation Commission meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 17, at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Conservation Commission
By Michael J. DeCicco