The Rochester Planning Board could render a decision on the city of New Bedford’s proposed 10-acre solar farm project at its next meeting on January 8.

“I believe we have addressed all of the concerns of the abutters,” said Planning Board Chair Arnie Johnson. “We’re still waiting on a couple of engineering reports, but we could possibly put it to a vote. I don’t think it would cause too much disruption. The biggest issue would be to protect the abutters and protect the town.”

If approved, the installation would be constructed on 20 acres near the Little Quittacas Pond reservoir, which is owned by the city of New Bedford.

In April, the city’s representatives as well as the project’s developers, Blue Wave Capital and Consolidated Edison, said they hoped the project could cut the city’s costs of municipal power by 30 percent.

Since last spring, the proposed solar farm has been undergoing site plan review with the Planning Board.

Abutters have raised concern with the appearance of the solar farm.

“They don’t want to look at it. There were concerns with noise, wind, and dust,” Johnson said.

To appease abutters, Johnson said the developers have proposed constructing a berm to help block the abutters’ view of the project as well as to reduce wind and dust from the installation.

“This is a fairly extensive project,” Johnson said. “It would be the first one of its kind in town.”

Jim Ricci, New Bedford’s Superintendent of Water, said the city’s goal is to have the entire Water Department working on “green energy.”

Rochester would not have access to any of the power, but the town would be paid $800,000 in lieu of taxes over a 20-year period as well as an additional $150,000 in permitting fees.

Construction could begin within nine months if the board approves the project, Johnson said.

“I think we gathered just about all of the information we could gather. This is a fairly straightforward project,” Johnson said.