Those living in Rochester’s historic district said they moved there for the peace, quiet and tranquil views. Craig and Susan Fleming said it didn’t occur to them that a 5-acre solar farm would one day become their neighbor.

“We chose to live in a historic house,” Craig said. “I knew there was a limited commercial district near me and never in my wildest dreams I thought I’d be looking at a solar farm.”

On Tuesday, the Planning Board, residents and representatives from Renewable Generation discussed the company’s proposal to build a 1.5-megawatt solar farm in the heart of the town’s historic district.

The project has drawn the ire of abutters and others who say unless the project is properly screened from view it will mar views of the landscape.

Located at 620 New Bedford Road, the solar farm is near a historic cemetery where some graves are 300 years old.

Renewable Generation representatives proposed removing 20-foot or taller trees from a buffer zone around the project to let more light reach the solar panels.

That move upset Matthew Monteiro who purchased his home because it was in the woods.

“We bought a house in the middle of a forest and they’re taking all the trees away,” Monteiro said.

Planning Board member Gary Florindo had a personal reason for ensuring that the project wouldn’t remove trees near the cemetery to reduce shade on the solar panels.

“All these big trees were put around the cemetery for a reason,” Florindo said. “When people go there to see families it gives them a sight to see around the memorials. People I know are in there, my great grandfather is in there, my aunts and uncles are in there.”

Developers from Renewable Generation had returned to the board after making changes to their initial plans. Those changes included reducing the size of the project from 10-acres to 5-acres and added screening measures to hide the project from abutters.

Chair Arnie Johnson said it appeared Renewable Generation had more work to do.

“We don’t want to see this from day one,” Johnson said.

Jacob Laskin, president of Renewable Generation, said he was willing to work with the board. In a compromise, he said no trees on the company’s property near the cemetery would be cut. In exchange, Laskin requested the board waive certain development requirements and allow for additional trees be removed on the property’s western edge.

Doing so would allow enough light on the panels to make the project feasible.

“We hear your thoughts on the cemetery,” Laskin said. “We’re proposing to leave those trees in place that are on our property.”

Another major concern the board had was screening the solar array from abutters.

Bill Madden, of GAF Engineering, explained that the site will have solar panels that are 12 feet wide and almost 8 feet tall. Between each row of panels there will be 7 feet of space. A 7-foot-tall fence will surround the project to keep out intruders.

As a limited commercial district, the area could house a variety of developments, some which might be more disruptive than solar arrays.

Florindo said he’d rather see the solar project there as opposed to a housing development. Laskin said the property is a prime spot for development.

“Something will be done with this property,” Laskin said. “If it’s not us today it’s going to be somebody tomorrow.”

Ultimately, Johnson said board members and Renewable Generation will work together and balance the needs of developers and residents.

“We’re going to go home and think about it, they’re going to go home and think about it,” Johnson said. “And we’ll come back in a couple of weeks with some new ideas.”