The first order of business undertaken by the Rochester Conservation Commission during its September 18 meeting was to continue the Notice of Intent filing for a proposed age-restricted subdivision planned for the property adjacent to Plumb Corner. The hearing was continued to October 2, but not before Chairman Michael Conway expressed his frustration.

“Can we get that person in here so I can look him face to face and ask why so many continuances?” Conway asked of Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon.

Farinon defended the applicant saying, “As we know, there have been issues with drainage.” She explained that drainage from the Plumb Corner commercial strip mall had to be addressed before the project could move along. She also explained, “As you know, there is an outstanding order of conditions on the property for the removal of old soils.” Farinon said these two issues were impediments for the developer, REpurpose Properties. She said she would bring the commission up to speed later in the evening.

As promised, Farinon presented an invoice to the commission for site and document reviews completed by their peer review consultants Nover Armstrong of Carver in the amount of $4,000 for the planned 22-duplex residential project. She assured Conway that, although there had been a number of continuances granted, forward movement on the application had been taking place behind the scenes. She said she was confident things were moving in the right direction.

Also requesting and receiving a continuation was Steve Long of Borrego Solar Systems for a proposed solar array planned for 75 Vaughan Hill Road.

Jeffrey Cordeiro, Jr., 296 Walnut Plain Road, came before the commission with a Request for Determination of Applicability for the construction of a gravel driveway and parking area. After explaining his sensitivity towards environmental issues and wetlands regulations due to his career as a member of the Army Corps of Engineers, a position he still holds today, he said that dead trees and trash left behind by the previous owners would be removed. Cordeiro also explained that the driveway and parking area within the 100-foot buffer zone would have a minimum amount of loam scraped away and reused around the property. Cordeiro received a Negative determination with standard conditions.

Farinon gave her quarterly financial report that noted the Notice of Intent Fund stood at $31,000 – funds she said could be used for any activities associated with enforcing the Wetlands Protection Act. The stipend provided in the town budget was $2,014. She qualified her figures by saying that salaries were not part of her report.

Farinon also reminded the commission and the public that the Green Communities Public Forum is scheduled for September 27 with presentations taking place at 3:00 pm and again later that evening at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Council on Aging. She urged the public to attend and learn how the program will help to identify ways to conserve energy in new construction and in some commercial structures. She said that adoption of the new building “Stretch Code” was an integral part of the program and would be on the Fall Special Town Meeting warrant.

Special Town Meeting is scheduled for November 19.

Conway asked Farinon how it was going on securing applicants for vacancies on the commission. Farinon said the vacancies had been posted, but the search continues. Anyone interest in learning more about the Conservation Commission vacancies may contact Farinon at 508-763-5421 or visit www.rochestermaconservation.com.

The next meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission is scheduled for October 2 at 7:00 pm in the Rochester Town Hall meeting room.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell

With the weeks seeming to fly by, the Mattapoisett Planning Board reviewed a bylaw draft that would regulate medical cannabis sales in the town. Such a bylaw would have to be accepted at the Fall Special Town Meeting scheduled for November 26. Further, any bylaw passed at Town Meeting must then be sent to the Attorney General’s office before the December 31 deadline for such proposed new bylaws.

On September 17, Planning Board member Janice Robbins reported to the board what the subcommittee – specifically selected to write such language – had drafted.

Robbins said fellow committee members – Police Chief Mary Lyons, Fire Chief Andrew Murray, Robert Field, Sandra Dawson, Don Bamberger, members of the public health department, and Planning Board Administrator Mary Crain – used language composed by the town’s legal counsel, KP Law, which has also been suggested to other cities and towns preparing similar documents.

Robbins said the subcommittee members were in agreement that the only location in Mattapoisett that would be appropriate for a medical marijuana dispensary is the industrial business park located off North Street. She said the one “glitch” in selecting this location was the state requirement that such facilities be placed at least 500 feet from any location where children might be present, including private residences, parks, schools, churches, etc.

Robbins said that with Phase II of the bike phase scheduled for construction through the industrial park area, the subcommittee members weren’t sure if this business location would be deemed appropriate. She also said the group considered future residential construction in the Bay Club and other buildable sites along the future recreational path, and whether those have to be put into the equation.

In the end, Robbins said the subcommittee members agreed that the bike path should not be a hindrance if a medical cannabis facility was ever proposed in the industrial park and that any undeveloped residential sites also would not be taken into consideration.

The Planning Board members discussed various aspects of a site plan they might be asked to consider in the future, noting their involvement would be just for the site plan itself and not any special permits or Board of Health permits.

Robbins said one thing she thought might be necessary is a surety from any future medical cannabis facility owner. She said that in the event the business became defunct, the Town shouldn’t bear the burden of cleaning up the site. The Planning Board members agreed they could add that as a condition along with local inspections.

The board members moved to send the draft bylaw along to the Board of Selectmen.

In other business, site plan review of Chase Canopy’s application to build an 8,000 square-foot commercial building off Fairhaven Road was continued. Representing the applicant, engineer Robert Field asked if the board would send a letter to the Zoning Board of Appeals indicating that the plan, as submitted, would essentially be accepted once the project has been cleared with the Massachusetts Wildlife Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, and that a peer review consultant would review the project.

Also continued were subdivision project hearings for Dennis Arsenault for property located at the end of Snow Fields Road, and from Scott Snow for property located at 8-8R Prospect Road.

A hearing for a Form A Approval Not Required filed by Benjamin Hansbury and Deborah Forter for property located at 237 and 239 North Street was approved.

Also coming before the Planning Board on this evening was Tree Warden Roland Cote who sought and received permission to remove one maple tree located at the corner of Pearl and Church Street, another maple tree located at the corner of North and Church Street, and some 21 mixed varieties along a stretch of Acushnet Road that will allow for the renovation and installation of a new culvert and bridge.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for October 4 in the Town Hall conference room at 7:00 pm.

Mattapoisett Planning Board

By Marilou Newell