The Rochester Planning Board addressed updates to the Cranberry Highway Development in their meeting held on November 10 after most other public hearings set to come before the board were continued into December.
Phil Cordeiro, representing the developer, continued his discussion on the proposed bussing routes that will be involved with the site. Cordeiro presented an updated plan set that featured proposed school bus routes. The new route will have internal access to the development rather than the previously proposed shared bus stop with the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Authority. The GATRA bus stop will remain in its previous location along the ring road that surrounds the development.
The desire for a new school bus stop location came after discussions held in previous meetings relating to increased traffic and safety risks presented by the prospect of multiple bus stops on the ring road. Through his conversation with the Planning Board, Cordeiro worked to move the school bus stop inside the site to avoid queueing and traffic delays on the ring road. His proposed location for the bus stop allows the buses to pick up children throughout the site safely. Also, depending on the bus company’s feedback, the buses may elect to use a front-door pickup method at each of the buildings within the site, rather than one bus stop for the entire location.
Continued progress on the busing solution is contingent on feedback from the bus company and school board. The bus company is reluctant to have its drivers choose routes that involve private roads, but Cordeiro was hopeful that the clear safety risk posed by choosing to use the ring road as the bus stop location would influence their decision. Ultimately, a decision on the bus location will not be reached until the Planning Board approves the entire plan, as the bus company will not consider proposals while the development is still in the public hearing.
Andrew Delli Carpini of Seasons Corner Market joined the public hearing to express his approval of the proposed plans. This came after longstanding discord between Seasons and the Cranberry Highway Development. Delli Carpini explained that the two groups were able to reach a consensus on several issues that had previously hindered progress on the proposed development. He expressed his continued hope that the Planning Board would provide updates on the project related to Seasons Corner Market.
Rochester Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson explained that the majority of the issues relating to the development have been resolved and that they should be able to close the public hearing on the proposal at the next meeting.
The Planning Board moved to discuss the Old Middleboro Road Solar Development. Developers on the site submitted a request to determine whether a change in the orientation of solar panels on the site constituted a minor change to the overall plans. With the orientation currently proposed in the plans, the panels would not catch enough sunlight to effectively produce power.
According to Town Planner Steve Starrett, the developers have been closely adhering to Planning Board regulations since work has been allowed to continue on the site. Starrett told the board that roughly half of the tree clearing required on the site has already been completed, and this one change will allow the proposal to move forward. As no additional land clearing would be needed and no drastic changes to the site would occur, the Planning Board voted to approve the change in orientation of the panels.
The next Rochester Planning Board meeting is scheduled to take place on December 8 with remote access via Zoom, and the December meeting will be the final Planning board meeting of the year.
Rochester Planning Board
By Matthew Donato