The Rochester Planning Board meeting held on September 8 brought updates to the longstanding public hearing on the proposed mixed-use development at 22 Cranberry Highway adjacent to Seasons Corner Market.

            Phil Cordeiro, representing Steen Realty and Rochester Crossroads LLC’s project that includes 208 residential units and commercial space, began his presentation with a basic outline of the progress that has been going on outside of the board’s purview.

            Cordeiro explained that he is awaiting a follow-up from the board’s peer-review consultant in order to make the necessary changes to satisfy board concerns. While awaiting the peer review, Cordeiro has made progress with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation pertaining to his request for multiple curb cuts required for a bus stop at the site.

            According to Cordeiro, the previously proposed location for the bus stop would make it difficult for buses to properly turn back to the road after picking up passengers. The new proposed location positions the bus stop directly on the ring road around the development. This will allow buses to avoid turns that may be dangerous and cause problems with traffic.

            Though the proposal seems functional in theory, the project is still awaiting review by traffic engineers before any location for the bus stop can be officially determined.

            Rochester Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson explained that, due to the holdups, the most efficient course of action would be to allow traffic engineers hired by Steen Realty and the abutting Seasons Corner Market to submit traffic reviews to the Planning Board for its records. The board could then review these opinions and make a decision going forward.

            Chairman Johnson also posed questions surrounding mail delivery to the site and concerns surrounding traffic patterns. As much of those answers are up to the postmaster, Cordeiro could only explain that the location of the mailboxes would be deep inside the apartment developments and have little impact on traffic.

            While some of the delays surrounding the project have certainly related to the time required for Planning Board review, many of the problems also relate to differences of opinion between Steen Realty and Seasons Corner Market. On that front, Cordeiro was pleased to report that progress is being made.

            Cordeiro has been working with John Russell, who represents the interests of Seasons Corner Market, to settle their disputes surrounding the ring road. Russell explained that Seasons and Steen Realty have come to an agreement on the easements relating to the ring road and drainage systems. In addition, Seasons Corner Market is in support of the current plans that Cordeiro has brought before the Planning Board.

            The agreement was predicated on the construction of new signage around the Seasons Corner Market that will ensure that the vehicular exposure, which is vital to the store’s success, will remain as prevalent as it already is. Though progress was made in the negotiations between Seasons and Steen, Chairman Johnson explained that the addition of the new signage will mean that Cordeiro will have to bring a signage proposal before the Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals, furthering the development’s interaction with the town’s governing bodies.

            In the Rochester Conservation Commission meeting held August 18, Cordeiro also received news that he would not receive approval from the commission until the Planning Board approved a waiver pertaining to the groundwater mounding on the site. After he explained his dilemma to Planning Board members, Cordeiro made it clear that he would be resubmitting his application for such a waiver.

            Town Planner Steve Starrett provided some good news for the development. According to Starrett, the peer review of the site should be completed by the end of the week, meaning that Cordeiro will have the opportunity to make what might end up as the final updates to the project. Cordeiro expressed his hope that the next meeting will provide significant progress for the development.

            The next Rochester Planning Board meeting is set to take place on Tuesday, September 22, at 7:00 pm. Public participation will be accessible in person at the Rochester Middle School and remotely via Zoom.

Rochester Planning Board

By Matthew Donato

            On September 8, Marion’s Planning Board held informal discussions with David Davignon of Schneider, Davignon, and Leone, Inc. for a two-lot subdivision proposed by Todd Zell for property he owns off County Road.

            The concept includes two residential parcels of approximately 5 acres each with a shared private roadway off County Road. Zell also owns and has developed abutting parcels including one for his private residence. The property was discussed by Davignon as “basically flat” with cranberry bogs along one border and a solar array or solar farm on the other side. To the north, Davignon said the two previously developed lots are located.

            As he continued to describe the project and the property, Davignon said that the soils were very sandy and “percolated” well. This he assured the board was based on work he had completed for Zell on the other developed lots as well as work he had completed for the owners of the solar array. However, when pressed he said he could dig test pits for this project also.

            Davignon said his goal of attending the meeting on this night was to vet a number of waivers he would be seeking on behalf of his client. Those waivers are an engineering estimate for roadway materials, an impact statement, roadway turning radius, centerline of paved surface, stormwater-system setbacks, and granite curbing.

            The board, which included Chairperson Will Saltonstall, Vice Chairperson Andrew Daniel and members Chris Collings, Eileen Marum, and Kristin Saint Don-Campbell, as well as Town Planner Gil Hilario, took each waiver under advisement while also offering questions and concerns.

            Collings noted that a frequently asked waiver was one that eliminated granite curbs, wondering aloud if the town really wanted them everywhere or just in specific locations or on specific types of projects.

            Saltonstall said regarding stormwater detention ponds and setbacks, “Setbacks are created to protect abutters,” wanting to ensure that such systems performed as expected.

            Other comments were whether or not the subdivision should be serviced by a hammerhead roadway layout or a cul-de-sac. Davignon said he would discuss options with the fire chief and return with updated concepts.

            Davignon explained that public water supply in the area of the project came from Wareham and that accessing fresh water from that municipal system was cost-prohibitive. Fresh-water wells and septic systems are currently planned, but Marum expressed her concerns over contamination from the nearby cranberry bogs.

            Citing a 2005 study from the state of Wisconsin, Marum stated the study seemed to indicate the presence of cranberry-industry, agricultural chemicals in groundwater. With that in mind, she was concerned about the water quality on the Zell site. Davignon said he would look at the state setback requirements for cranberry bogs. Discussions will continue at the next Planning Board meeting.

            Earlier in the evening, the board members approved an ANR application filed by Albert and Julie Meninno for property located at 36 Main Street. Also represented by Davignon, the request would separate the residential house lot from a commercial parking lot that has long been used by St. Gabriel’s Church. Davignon said the parking lot would permanently become part of the church’s holdings, while the home, which is currently under a purchase and sales agreement, will be sold.

            Noting that the request had been before the Zoning Board of Appeals and received a variance, the Planning Board unanimously voted to support the application.

            A Special Permit application filed by Daniel Gibbs for 459 Mill Street was withdrawn, Saltonstall said. However, the applicant has refiled and will be heard on September 21 at 7:05 pm.

            The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for Monday, September 21, at 7:00 pm via Zoom.

Marion Planning Board

By Marilou Newell

CORRECTION

            A reporting error in the October 22 edition of The Wanderer misstated two actions of the Marion Planning Board during its October 19 meeting. During the public hearing for Saltworks Marine, LLC, the Planning Board approved the site plan review for two temporary boat storage shelters at 288 Wareham Street. The approval for the temporary construction is capped at two years. The building code requires Dan Crete, owner of Saltworks Marine, LLC, to seek the approval of Building Commissioner Scott Shippey for a special permit every 180 days. Also, an application made to the Zoning Board of Appeals for work proposed at 12 Emils Way was discussed by the Planning Board because the latter had received a request from the ZBA for comment.

What do you get when the weather is super fine for boating and you are the harbormasters of very popular seaside locations – oh, and toss in a summertime holiday weekend? You get busy.

            As summer winds down in fine weather style, Isaac Perry, Marion harbormaster, and Jamie McIntosh, Mattapoisett harbormaster, found their departments in high demand as several incidents required the rescue skills that boaters depend on during times of distress.

            Both Marion and Mattapoisett departments participated in a rescue off Cleveland’s Ledge on Saturday. Perry and McIntosh confirmed that, by the time they were on the scene, a commercial fishing boat had pulled three people from their sinking boat. Perry said the boat was full of construction supplies as the boaters were contractors heading to the Cleveland Ledge Lighthouse, now privately owned, to do renovation work. “We recovered eight sheetrock panels as well as assisting in righting the vessel,” Perry stated. Mattapoisett transported the boaters to Bourne, where they declined further assistance.

            Over in Mattapoisett, McIntosh said his team was busy all weekend with a small capsized sailing craft. No one was injured and the sailor was removed from the water, assisted with righting the boat, and sailed on.

            A near-drowning occurred off Barstow Wharf in Mattapoisett when a boater was unable to swim into shore from their boat. The person in the water was brought to shore and received first aid before being transported to the hospital. McIntosh said the swimmer was not seriously injured.

            Rounding out the weekend calls, Mattapoisett Harbormaster’s department responded to a call for help when a jet ski ran out of fuel near Ram Island and people on-shore heard someone calling for help. No injuries were sustained.

            Perry said with a chuckle, “We had lots of people in the harbor … mooring lines that needed untangling, just lots of stuff.”

By Marilou Newell

            A proud Fire Chief Scott Wiegel and Grant Writer Marcia Kessler met with the Rochester Board of Selectmen on September 8 to discuss the $120,155 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant funding awarded in August. This grant acquisition is a part of the larger FEMA $41,300,000 nationwide “SAFER” program, which is designed to improve fire response in communities.

            According to Chief Wiegel, the funding will be divided over four years and will be used to recruit and retain highly qualified call firefighters. In particular, call firefighters who attend fire academy – a six-month, 240-hour commitment requiring on-site training in Fall River – will now receive a $1,500 stipend upon completion. “It’s a big commitment,” said Chief Wiegel of the academy.

            Additionally, physicals that are required by the Commonwealth’s Human Resources Division (HRD) as a part of the firefighter academy prerequisite will be paid through the FEMA grant. Funding will also be available for personal protective equipment (PPE), totaling $8,600 per person in “turnout gear” over the four-year period. Old Colony Regional will be producing professional recruitment materials for potential call firefighter recruits.

            Kessler said that the effort to retain existing personnel will come in the form of training and networking opportunities. The grant funding comes with the discretion to use roughly $10,000 on training, including sending existing personnel to the National Firefighter’s Conference, and $12,000 on call-fire response operational improvements. “It’s an effort to recruit new firefighters and to keep those that (we) have,” she said. This kind of training will also help in providing the department with more “Level II” firefighters, which is a standard that FEMA likes to see in a fire department.

            “Well done. Both of you. Well done,” said Board of Selectmen Chairman Paul Ciaburri.

            “We’ve done pretty well … thanks to Marcia,” said Chief Wiegel.

            In additional fire department matters, the board heard a request from the Rochester Fire Association to hold a family event on October 4 at the town’s Pine Street facility. Chief Wiegel said that the event organizers knew that there could be no more than 50 people at the event at any given time during the day. “We will follow the guidelines,” he assured the board.

            Selectman Greenwood Hartley said that the board’s primary concern should be event approval and use of town facilities, not to enforce the state’s gathering rules. “That’s the Board of Health’s responsibility, not ours,” he said, adding that the event will require Board of Health approval as well. The selectmen approved the use of the Pine Street facility for the Rochester Fire Association on October 4 and voted to waive the fee, with Chairman Ciaburri recusing himself.

            In other business, the board approved and signed a conservation for the Old Middleboro Road property. Allen Decker of the Buzzards Bay Coalition assured the board that existing activities at the property, including hunting, will not be affected by the conservation restriction.

            Connie Eshbach of the Rochester Historical Commission gave a sneak-peak at a historical plaque program that will promote the town’s history and share pride in the town’s collective agricultural story. Eshbach described the program as “voluntary” and that the process specifics will be shared on the town’s website at a later date. Eshbach said that the plaque program, as currently envisioned, will be available to houses built prior to 1970, and other eligibility requirements may be considered, including architectural significance, notable events and people associated with properties, etc.

            Matt Monteiro of the Historic District Commission was also present, and said that the district commission was “on board” and, while the program has not yet been approved by the commission, he did not anticipate objections.

            In her Town Administrator’s report, Suzanne Szyndlar said that the Town Hall is now equipped with new LED lights as a part of the town’s Green Communities designation. The LED lights will be extended to four town buildings total and will create approximately $20,000 in savings each year. The savings come from the smart use of light, including dimming to specifications needed, timing out when not being used, and preset schedules. “It’s a very nice system,” said Szyndlar.

            The board will arrange for a goal-setting session, at the request of Selectman Hartley, who encouraged the other selectmen to come to that meeting with a “couple of goals” for the upcoming year. For Hartley, the finalization of town bylaws – including zoning bylaws – will top that list.

            The board also welcomed new Rochester police officer Aaron Bates to the force.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled for Tuesday, September 22, at 6:00 pm and will be accessible via Zoom.

Rochester Board of Selectmen

By Anne O’Brien