The February 8 meeting of the Rochester Planning Board was a good one for members of the Renewable Energy Development Partners team, who have been meeting with Rochester boards for many months. But all that hard work and cooperation to the process is just about to pay off, bringing the 109 Neck Road solar project that much closer to a start date. The project has been described as unique in that a number of the panels will be mounted across irrigation canals and in other areas, crops may be planted under the panels.
Coming before the board was Renewable Energy’s Hank Ouimet, as well as Sarah Stearns of Beals and Thomas, Inc. The meeting was held primarily to update the board on progress made in addressing comments from peer-review consultant Ken Motta of Field Engineering. Stearns also said that in his latest communication, Motta has offered some language for the board to consider when drafting its decision.
Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson pointed out that waivers requested by the applicant were incomplete and needed future review because “the language is too vague to be enforceable.”
The board also approved a list of bonds for the project: $133,000 for decommissioning, $15,000 for the next five years for screening near wetlands, $2,000 called a timber assessment and $35,000 for the next two years for landscaping. The hearing was continued to Tuesday, February 22, at 7:00 pm.
An informal discussion was held with Brian Wallace of JC Engineering regarding plans for a playground associated with Countryside Child Care. Wallace described the location of the playground, drainage features and safeguards for pedestrians and motorists.
Regarding the relocation of storage containers he owns, Matt Gurney asked the engineer and the board to consider placing them closer to the blacktop versus Wallace’s suggestion of farther away into an area that is currently wet. Johnson and Wallace agreed to work with Gurney to find an amenable solution.
Town Planner Nancy Durfee reported that an update of the board’s bylaws and regulations was nearly ready for a public hearing once the board agrees with the changes.
Durfee also advised the board that an existing Open Space plan would be completed and readied for their approval. Once finalized, Durfee said it would go to the state for final approval. Such acceptance, she noted, clears the way for the town to apply for grants. She said that up-to-date land mapping needs to be included in the plan.
Durfee also said that she was in the process of writing a grant application that would defray expenses associated with drafting a new Master Plan.
The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for Tuesday, February 22, at 7:00 pm.
Rochester Planning Board
By Marilou Newell