The Rochester Planning Board addressed upcoming changes to the proposed development on Cranberry Highway in its meeting held on October 27. Phil Cordeiro, the project’s representative, came before the Planning Board once again after the project’s public hearing was continued numerous times.
Despite the increasing number of delays stalling the project, Cordeiro explained that his business with the Rochester Planning Board should be coming to an end soon. Cordeiro provided a new plan sent to Field Engineering, the board’s peer-review engineer, to dispel concerns about the septic systems on the site. According to Cordeiro, the updated plans address all of the concerns put forth by Field Engineering, and Cordeiro is awaiting an official response to the new plans in order allow the project to move forward.
With the septic system apparently resolved, Cordeiro mentioned a new problem on the site that he felt was important for the Planning Board to provide insight into. The Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority Bus Stop that is planned on the ring road leading into the site could raise problems. Cordeiro provided data to the Planning Board relating to the frequency of stops and potential traffic caused by the buses. Traffic consultants working with Cordeiro reported that GATRA buses will make four stops per day at the proposed stop. In addition, they informed Cordeiro that the buses will only make a stop at the location if someone flags down the bus. With that, the consultants advised Cordeiro that it was unlikely that the GATRA bus stop would cause any significant hinderance to the flow of traffic.
The main difficulty with the bus stop at the site came when Cordeiro informed the Planning Board that discussions had begun surrounding the inclusion of a school bus stops at the GATRA location. After speaking with the bussing authorities, Cordeiro told board members that a shared bus stop between GATRA and Rochester schools is desired because school buses are directed to avoid private roadways wherever possible. The desire to avoid private roads moved discussions toward a shared bus stop rather than an alternate proposal of a specific school bus stop within the residential development.
Combining the two bus stops into one location would raise problems. According to Rochester Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson, parents would likely line the ring road with their cars as they wait to drop off and pick up their children. Further, Vice Chairman Gary Florindo pointed out that a school bus requires all traffic to come to a halt in order to guarantee the safety of the children boarding the bus. These factors would undoubtedly cause large delays on the road where the stop is located and impede the traffic patterns of the development. Board members agreed that the combination of the two bus stops would not only cause traffic delays, but it could also present a safety risk for school children.
Cordeiro echoed the sentiment of the Planning Board and explained his hope that the school bus stop could be moved into the residential area. Johnson told Cordeiro to add a location for the new bus stop into his plans for the board’s review. He also explained that he would speak with the Rochester schools in order to explain the importance of moving the bus stop, despite the new location being on a private road. With that, the Planning Board voted to continue the public hearing on the matter until its next scheduled meeting to allow Cordeiro time to find a new location for the bus stop.
The Planning Board moved to a project which has already received an order of conditions to proceed: the Old Middleboro Road Solar Project. In their previous meeting, the Planning Board threatened action against the development as a result of a lack of required bonds and the developers working off of a plan set that was not approved by the board.
Following that meeting, the Planning Board filed a Cease and Desist order against the developers and brought the project to a halt. Johnson explained that, on the day after the order was filed, the Planning Board received the required bonds. In addition, Field Engineering was able to review the new plans that included changes required by the Rochester Conservation Commission. According to Field Engineering, the changes in the plans did not constitute significant modifications to the development.
Satisfied that their requirements had been met, the Planning Board voted to lift the Cease and Desist order on the project and allow work on the site to resume.
The next Rochester Planning Board meeting is set to take place on Tuesday, November 10 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Middle School, with remote access provided via Zoom.
Rochester Planning Board
By Matthew Donato