Things continue to progress for the two large-scale solar energy installations slated for Rochester on Cushman Road and Snipatuit Road, and the Rochester Planning Board on July 27 began with an update on the ongoing negotiations between abutters and the solar developer’s engineering representative, Eric Las of Beals & Thomas, Inc., who spoke that night on behalf of both solar project applications.
Since June, Las has been negotiating with abutters to the Cushman Roadproject who are particularly concerned about an access road that would traverse their properties via an easement and potentially cause a detrimental impact on a nearby stone wall. For Las, the project is on the “home stretch” of the permitting process with his submission of a construction narrative that Planning Board Chairman Arnie Johnson requested and an update on changes proposed for the access road.
According to Las, changes to the alignment of the access road relative to the stone wall and a shift away from a patch of trees containing parts of the stone wall should rectify abutters’ concerns for the wall.
“I think the board will be pleased with the changes,” he stated, emphasizing that they would bypass the stone wall completely and still accommodate fire trucks and construction vehicles. All the updates he said, “make the construction of this access road … much more realistic … and that’s the progress we’ve made.”
Johnson said he appreciated the narrative Las provided, and Planning Board member Ben Bailey called Las’s negotiations with abutters “nice work.”
Abutters Julie and Mike Koczera still had concerns about their underground septic pipe over which heavy trucks would have to travel, but Las stated that the written decision would include the laying of concrete to protect the pipe. In response to the Koczeras’ question, Las said construction of the access road and preparation of the solar array site would take approximately two weeks to complete.
The Koczeras’ engineer, Dave Davignon, stated his few concerns, including a request to relocate the laydown area where grinding will occur from the northwestern corner to the southeastern corner to mitigate noise the Koczeras would experience. He also asked about hours of operation, which Johnson said, typically, are restricted to Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm.
The hearing was continued until August 10.
Just after, the board approved the previously discussed waiver requests for the Snipatuit Road solar project before continuing the hearing until August 10.
Breaking slightly with tradition, the board voted to approve the draft decision for the Site Plan Review for Robert Ferreira, 92 Pine Street, instead of reviewing the draft decision and waiting until the next hearing for a vote.
This was Town Planner Steve Starrett’s last meeting in the position, and he thanked the board, which thanked him in return.
“Steve’s been a big asset,” said Johnson, who wished him luck.
Unfortunately, the candidate the Board of Selectmen chose as Starrett’s replacement accepted an offer of employment for a different position elsewhere, so the town will have to readvertise for the job and start over the hiring process.
“Hopefully, we won’t be without a formal planner for too long,” said Johnson.
The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board will be held on Tuesday, August 10, at 7:00 pm in person at the Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School library and via Zoom.
Rochester Planning Board
By Jean Perry