Town of Rochester

The meeting included a subdivision hearing for property on Brandon Mountain Road, where an application to subdivide a 46.7-acre property into three parcels was approved. An outbuilding permit was approved for William Hayes, and the Town's Village Downtown Designation was announced. Assistance with the Town Plan Flood Resilience chapter continued, and the next chapter to be addressed will be Natural, Scenic and Cultural Resources. The possibility of participating in Energy training after the town plan is completed was discussed, but no decision was made.

The Rochester Planning Commission convened to discuss several key issues. A new business item involved an inquiry regarding the Select Board's denial of a driveway permit due to insufficient road frontage. The commission agreed with the denial and suggested an alternative driveway location. Additionally, the commission received advice from the Two Rivers Regional Planning Commission on Town Plan revisions, focusing on the Village Center designation and the timeline for submitting an extension application. The discussion also included the expedited plan, Forest Blocks, Flood Resilience sections, and deadlines for distribution, warnings, and hearings.

The meeting addressed several subdivision proposals, including approvals for the Lloyd McGuffin and Wendy Pratt subdivisions, and a continuation for the Michael Andrews subdivision pending a revised map. A sketch plan review for Barbra Dehart was conducted with questions raised for clarification. Permit applications were reviewed, with approvals for Fred Stern and Ethan Bowen, a denial for Robert Leahey, and an approval for Troy Lapell. The board discussed the planning grant for zoning bylaws and the need for clarity in defining public roads.

The Zoning and Planning meeting included discussions on a minor subdivision application by Shiela Jill Baron, which was approved with one abstention. A comment concerning the state of Quarry Hill property private roads was noted for the record. The board approved a proposal to add a barn outbuilding for Pete and Floe Swartz. Applications for Municipal Planning Grant and Planning Grant for Seven Town Consortium were submitted. Bylaw work was tabled, and discussions continued regarding the Murray Solar Farm Array. Concerns were raised about runoff from road construction on the Gendron property.

The meeting included a discussion on John's report regarding attendance at an Act 174 Energy Planning Standards meeting, and the board agreed to defer action on this until the next Town Plan update in 2018. The board will inquire about seeking a grant from Two Rivers Regional Planning Commission for assistance in the plan update to start in late 2017. There was also a discussion about an upcoming meeting with area towns concerning flood resilience.