Rochester landfill considered for solar farm site – News – southcoasttoday.com

By Michael J. DeCiccoContributing Writer

ROCHESTER — Acting Planning Board Chairman Gary Florindo said the High Street landfill is being considered as a possible site for a solar energy array installation.

He said it may become part of the town’s efforts to join the state Green Communities program, which would make Rochester eligible for grants and technical assistance to become a more energy-efficient town.

The first of the five criteria to become a Green Community would be adopting legislation to designate one acre in town as a by-right zone for solar energy installations or for the research and development of solar energy technology.

Planning Board member John DiMaggio asked whether allowing such an operation would abide by the town’s own solar zoning bylaws, especially regarding its level of visibility.

Town planner Steve Starrett responded zoning would still regulate this feature of such an installation.

In other action, the board continued its hearing on a proposed age-restricted 22-unit residential development near Plumbs Corner with a problematic storm water drainage plan until Aug. 28.

The continuance Tuesday night was accompanied by good news from Starrett that the parties involved in resolving the drainage dilemma are working together on a solution.

“They are getting together and working on it,” Starrett said in reference to the dispute over who owns the problem of a deficient existing drainage system at the site that the developer needs to fix.

The current system sends storm water directly into wetlands behind the mall. But the solution requires the Plumb Corners Mall property, which the petitioner doesn’t own, but the mall owner does not want utilized for the plan.

The hearing was continued to the new date upon the request of the petitioner and because the meeting lacked a quorum level of members.