The Rochester Planning Board Tuesday came close to approving the Site Plan Review and Special Permit for Site A of the High Street Solar project at 0 High St.
Site A of the 20-acre project is the southerly portion of the property close to High Street itself. The board closed the hearing on this part of the massive project, approved the permit waivers being requested by the applicant, High Street Solar LLC, and declared the board will create a draft decision in time for its next meeting.
The board granted the project waivers on required landscaping plans because a lot of natural resources are remaining onsite, and it approved the bond amounts the applicant must post, with one exception.
The panel hesitated over the applicant’s proposal to post a $30,165 decommissioning bond based on present-day value rates plus an escalating 2 1/2 percent increase every year. Board chair Arnold Johnson said that’s not the way the town has calculated this bond in the past and he would have to seek the opinion of town council and the town accountant. But the board did approve a $5,000 storm water maintenance bond before continuing the hearing to July 14.
The board also continued to July 14 the site plan review and special permit hearing for High Street Solar 2 at 0 High St. Site two covers the northern lots near Mayflower Lane. Johnson explained this portion of the project has not yet been reviewed by the town’s peer engineer.
Next, the board hesitated to make an immediate decision as it reviewed a request to modify the Site Plan Review application for a senior living apartment building proposed for Rochester Crossing, 22 Cranberry Highway by Steen Development Corp. Steen’s engineering consultant Philip Cordeiro explained the modification is a slight change in the underground drainage design. The physical connection to the master system is the same but the pipe is being shifted 80 feet to the north to be centered under the site’s overhead utility wires.
Johnson said the board needs to decide if this is a minor change or a major change that would require a new hearing. He said the town’s peer engineer, Ken Motta, will need to review the change before a decision is made. Cordeiro asked if the board would approve the change pending the peer engineer’s review. A motion to grant this conditional approval failed to pass after Johnson said the board could create a mess for itself if it is not a minor change in Motta’s final opinion. This hearing too was continued to July 14.
In other action, the board continued to August 11 its hearing regarding a modification of the previously approved Definitive Subdivision Plan for Snipatuit Pond Estates at Gerrish Road and Bishop Road upon the applicant’s request.
The board continued to July 14 its site plan review hearing filed by the Town of Rochester on a plan to clear and re-grade land behind town hall for an 8,220-square foot parking lot.
The Rochester Planning Board’s next scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, July 14 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Planning Board
By Michael J. DeCicco