Rochester Planning Board — June 9, 2026

The Rochester Planning Board met on June 9, 2026, to address routine financial business, several continuances, an informal subdivision proposal, and a major public hearing for a proposed solar project. The board approved meeting minutes, routine supplier vouchers, and a peer review contract for Field Engineering. Three scheduled public hearings—a municipal parking lot site plan at 1 Constitution Way and two separate solar projects by High Street Solar on High Street—were continued to June 23, 2026, at the applicants' requests.

The board held an informal discussion with Brian Wallace of JC Engineering regarding a potential backlot Form A subdivision at 83 Hiller Road off Winter's Way on behalf of Michael and Mary Fitzgerald. Discussions centered on roadway improvement standards, deed trust requirements, and acreage discrepancies between historical plans and assessor records. Wallace also provided a brief update on roadway paving across the street.

The centerpiece of the meeting was the opening of a public hearing for a special permit and site plan review for Walnut Plain Road Solar One LLC at 0 Walnut Plain Road, represented by Sarah Stearns of Beals and Thomas and Matt Swansburg of New Leaf Energy. The proposal involves a 1-megawatt AC (2-megawatt DC) ground-mounted solar array and battery storage system on approximately 9.5 cleared acres. Abutters and legal counsel raised significant objections regarding stormwater soil calculations, a deeded right-of-way belonging to Old Tuck Cranberry Corp., construction noise, utility pole relocations, and property buffers. The board voted to continue the hearing to July 14, 2026, and scheduled site visits for June 23, 2026.

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