North Stonington Conservation Commission
New Town Hall
October 23, 2014 @ 6:00 pm
Minutes
Called to order: 6:08 PM
Present: Bill Ricker, Mike Charnetski, Tony Rose, Marc Jaffan
Absent: Richard Blodgett, Warren Speh
No citizen’s comments
September minutes accepted as written.
Ongoing/Old Business:
• Rocky Hollow Recreation Area – Remains on hold; to be revisited in one year.
• Stewart Hill trail : Trail work took place on Sat, Oct 18th. 10 hrs spent; follow-up date on Saturday October 25 at 9am – Bill and Mike will meet at trail and put up signs and work toward completion of the trail.
• No update on Atty. Eppinger’s letter to the President & CEO of Peoples United Bank August 19th, asking their action on our request to honor the 1989 decision to deed the town the 5.5 ac. parcel #5251.
• Stewart property letter – no response to date
• October 18th ICONS (Informed Citizens of North Stonington) Community Conversation at the Elementary School attended by Bill.
• Draft letter was reviewed for first 5 of the 26 parcels recommended in our PCRL as desirous in acquiring. Commissioners in attendance agreed on language and comment was made to have Town Attorney Eppinger review before sending out.
• Calendar – Bill distributed 10 calendars to each Commissioner for resale. Also placed in library, town hall and businesses as well as at Town Fall Festival Oct 24 and PTO Dec 12 event in Town. Cost still $10.
• Two owners on parcels #8101 and #1857 on Wyassup Lake Rd have been contacted. Bill will schedule a walk through and post “Conservation Easement” signs after leaf fall.
• Bill’s bill for $59.91for computer ink tied to 2015 calendar still pending reimbursement.
• Checks submitted for membership in CACIWC (@ $60) and CT Land Conservation Council ($100). Both agencies offer support directly to us as well as the CT environment as a whole.
New Business:
• Green Falls LLC conservation easement issue – point is whether the Town should accept a small tract of land being offered under a conservation easement tied to an 830g housing development. The discussion centered around broader topic of what the criteria are for Conservation Commission and Board of Selectmen to accept or reject Conservation Easement land (and/or possibly request fee in lieu). Selectman Mark Donohue (in attendance) commented that desirability criteria for accepting conservation easement land should be clearly outlined by Conservation Commission (to be taken up at next CC meeting).
• Tied to Green Falls LLC matter, questions arose on regulatory responsibility Flow Chart. Agreement reached that stronger coordination between Planning and Zoning, Inland Wetlands Commission and Conservation Commission needs to exist particularly as it relates to the requirement and acceptance of Conservation Easements.
• With respect to 830g regulations, agreed that Conservation Commission will check with SECOG (Council of Government) and State Rep. Diana Urban to understand how those regulations interplay with Planning and Zoning regulations.
• Bill gave further overview of CC’s responsibility in monitoring the 19 CE’s yearly. Approach is to have each commissioner take 3 parcels. Suggestion made to check whether Boy Scouts could help with the monitoring and site survey of CEs. Also agreed that we get phone numbers and call affected landowners letting them know the monitoring will begin before we engage. Binders will be brought to next meeting (Nov 20th).
• Reminder that CC officer elections are in November.
• Reminder that there is no CC meeting in December.
Correspondence:
None
Member Forum:
Selectman Mark Donohue was in attendance and participated in discussion around Green Falls LLC matter referenced above.
Adjourned 8:10PM
Submitted by:
Marc Jaffan, rotating secretary pro tem
NOTE: Next meeting November 20th
NOTE: Bill checked with SCCOG (10-24-14) regarding Conservation Easements needed for an 830-g application. It is known that health & safety issues can over-ride an 830-g application. It is not widely known in town that wetlands is a third reason such an application can be rejected.
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