The Rochester Planning Board Tuesday approved the waivers and began the draft decision phase for the Special Permit and Site Plan Review permit for Logging Swamp Solar’s plan to install a solar panel array on 49 acres in the area of 600 Snipatuit Road.
Project representative Zach Farkes of Rewild Renewables began the discussion by asking if the board was okay with the $2500 Stormwater Bond being proposed and the location of the access road, which is being moved north because abutters were requesting it be placed further from their properties.
Farkes said he was particularly concerned about the road redesign because its new location encroaches on a stone wall and the town typically tries to protect and preserve such walls. Board members, however, said they had no problem with the stone wall’s new location because addressing the residents’ concerns are the priority. Abutter Lisa Christiansen, in fact, said to the developer’s consultants before the hearing closed and the waivers were approved, “Thank you for working with us and accommodating our requests.”
Chair Arnold Johnson said he had no problem with the proposed bond. In fact, he complimented the developer on proposing one that does not low ball what the board usually requests.
The plan covers 35 acres of a 2,000-acre wooded property bordered on one side by Northern Avenue and surrounded by a 350-acre swamp.
The meeting began by endorsing two Approval Not Required applications, one for 192 Pierce St. and the other for Walnut Plain Road. The plan for 192 Pierce St. is work on a five-acre conversion parcel out a 242-acre property. The plan for Walnut Plain Road is to subdivide the acreage there into three lots.
The board later approved the waivers for the Site Plan Review permit for Afonso Built Homes’ plan for a Townhouse development within Rochester Crossroads. The plan here is for a total of 15 buildings and a total of 44 units in a series of three-unit and two-unit buildings, with a drive-under garage and driveway parking spots. Here too Johnson said the board will now write the permit’s draft decision.
In other action, the board approved two other important draft decisions. It endorsed the Site Plan Review permit for a 68-unit age 55-and-over senior living apartment building proposed for Rochester Crossroad. It also approved the Site Plan Review and Special Permit application for the 53 Dexter Lane floating solar array project.
The board continued to its next meeting its hearing into a modification of the “Sniptauit Ponds Estates” Definitive Subdivision Plan for Gerrish and Bishop Roads that was approved in 1979. The request here is to swap two parcels of open space land and create a 3.578-acre buildable lot on one of them. Johnson said the town prefers open space to be donated to the town. A land swap would require that the land being swapped is of equal or lesser value. Applicant Robert Pellegrini said the land appraisal that will answer that question was only received that day and will be forwarded to th3e board. The board also extended this project’s decision deadline to January 31, 2026.
The board also continued to its next meeting the hearing for the Definitive Subdivision Plan for 19 County Road, in the area of West Wareham.
The Rochester Planning Board’s next meeting will be Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Planning Board
By Michael J. DeCicco