Rochester Planning Board — April 14, 2026

The Rochester Planning Board met on April 14, 2026, to conduct regular business, review multiple solar energy proposals, and address a definitive subdivision modification. The board approved meeting minutes and authorized payments for three Field Engineering vouchers totaling $5,235.77 for work associated with Snippatuit Road Solar, the Eversource substation, and Trailside Estates. A public hearing regarding a site plan review application filed by the Town of Rochester for an 8,220-square-foot parking area at 1 Constitution Way was continued to April 28, 2026.

New Leaf Energy and Beals and Thomas presented an informal overview of a proposed 1-megawatt ground-mounted solar project off Walnut Plain Road, which would clear slightly under 10 acres of trees. The board also resumed a public hearing on an application by Robert R. Pellegrini Jr. to modify a definitive subdivision plan off Gerrish and Bishop Roads by swapping open space parcels to create a 3.578-acre buildable lot; board members raised concerns regarding whether the proposed lot had actual road frontage or equal conservation value, continuing the hearing to April 28 to allow for discussions regarding a conservation restriction. Additionally, the board held a continued public hearing on High Street Solar's Site B, a 20-acre array off 0 High Street, addressing neighborhood concerns over noise, battery storage unit locations, and decommissioning bonding before continuing the hearing to May 12, 2026.

In other business, the board voted to authorize Chairman Arnold Johnson to sign the project completion letter for the solar canopies at Rochester Memorial School. The board also voted to recommend that the Select Board place the general code bylaw codification project on the town meeting warrant. The meeting concluded after brief administrative updates from Town Planner Michaela Shoemaker regarding code enforcement and surety reviews.

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