The Rochester Conservation Commission began its busy meeting on Tuesday by approving a positive Determination of Applicability to town wetlands regulations for renewal of the wetland’s delineation within the vegetative management plan of a Massachusetts Coastal Railroad right of way in Rochester near SEMASS. Project representative Thomas Lewis explained this regards the company’s five-year management plan for the site that has expired and was simply asking the commission to approve its renewal.
The commission then quickly approved four Certificates of Compliance for the construction of single-family homes within the buffer zone of cranberry bogs at 31 Cross Road, 82 Pierce St., 119 County Road and 127 County Road, all filed by Sarajon Realty.
The biggest approval of the night, however, came next. The commission endorsed the Notice of Intent for High Street Solar, Site A, which proposes work within the 100-foot wetlands buffer zone for a massive ground-mounted solar array.
Site A of the project is the southerly portion of the property close to High Street itself. This vote came after project representative Sarah Stern explained this array will cover 23 acres of the 68-acre property. Only a small portion of this section of the property is within 100 feet of a wetlands buffer zone, she said, but added a small portion of the land is being preserved and a box turtle habitat there is being studied for the developer’s further protection. The commission, however, continued to its next meeting the NOI hearing for High Street Solar Site B, which covers the northern lots near Mayflower Lane.
Next, the board approved the Notice of Intent to install a seasonal metal retractable deck in Snipatuit Pond and an access ramp to the dock from the bank of the pond at 485 Neck Road. This vote came after applicant John Sullivan reported the state Natural Wildlife recently endorsed the project with its own Order of Conditions that include a mussel protection plan and filing a compliance report.
The commission then continued to its next meeting the Notice of Intent hearing for the Buzzards Bay Coalition’s seven-acre ecological restoration project of former cranberry bogs at 0 Wolf Island Road, upon the applicant’s request.
The commission continued to its next meeting the Notice of Intent hearing to remove trees within the 100-foot wetlands buffer zone at 192 Pierce St. Here, commission members were close to issuing the after-the-fact NOI; the applicant, David Jones had already cut trees up to 25 feet before the buffer unaware of the 100-foot buffer rule. Commission chair Chris Gerrior then noted the board needs a DEP case number before voting on this project.
The commission continued to its next meeting the Notice of Intent hearing on constructing a solar array on Walnut Plain Road.
The next Conservation Commission meeting will be on July 21 at 7:00 pm, at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Conservation Commission
By Michael J. DeCicco