NORTH STONINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING AT NEW TOWN HALL
March 26, 2015 @ 6:00 pm
Minutes
Mission: For the development, conservation, supervision, and regulation of natural and historic resources, including water resources, within its territorial limits. (adopted September 2007)
Call to Order @ 6:00 pm
Present: Speh, Charnetski, Ricker Blodgett @ 7:20
Absent: Rose, Jaffan
February minutes were accepted as written
Citizen Comments: none
Yearly meeting calendar, update of commissioner’s terms and The Habitat were distributed to those not previously receiving them.
Ongoing Business:
2015 Calendar sales are closed out. 155 sold of 300 ordered. 30 additional calendars were given to SCCOG, library and others for promotion. $1551 was turned over to the town reimbursing the full cost of $1457 for printing. Given the lackluster sales, it was agreed we order only 200 for 2016. Several of the unsold calendars suggested be given to Theresa Pensis for donation to seniors who may not have been able to purchase one.
The CC supported our writing to both the BOS and P&Z for action on parcel #5251 following Atty. Eppinger’s response to our request for further legal efforts to have the property deeded to the Town. Draft letter approved. Ricker to follow up.
As DEEP rejected our request for an addition to the Rocky Hollow Recreation area and as there is little likelihood of their willingness to trade the 17 acres off Ravenswood Rd, it was supported our submitting an application to trade that 17 acres for land behind the Emergency Services site which holds a 250’ elevation for a future water tower. Ricker to consult with Mullane and Tate on drawing up those plans.
Stewart Hill Preserve Trail is near completion with Charnetski & Ricker finishing the trail markers when weather breaks. We need to consult with some equestrian folks on the feasibility of horses safely using the trails. Ricker to contact Nita Kincaid and Charnetski to ask Mary Rodman and his daughter, Shana Howard, to walk the property and offer their assessment before the sign is made.
CE monitoring is slow to complete again due to the weather. Tate stated that the Zalinsky property at Billings Lake may have had their signs removed. Ricker to investigate.
Parcels #8101 and #1857 on Wyassup Lake Rd are confirmed to have CE’s on the land and Ricker & Tate will GPS the properties and install signage.
Further discussion on sending letters to the remaining 14 properties in the POCD for desired land acquisition recommended we holding off on all except parcel #3537 (Baptist Church) as various actions are pending with the others.
New Business: In our work toward defining what type of conservation easements would be of optimal interest for us to support and which would be of minimal value to the Town, we draft the following:
Optimum Consideration:
- Land of sufficient size to warrant greenway continuation.
- Land which abuts or has reasonable chance of future connectivity to established protected lands for greenway development
- Land which holds a significant promise to continue to need protection. Ex: vernal pools, rock ledges, vistas, water ways, recognizing their relative importance in history.
- Land which holds a species of environmental importance.
- Land which protects the aquifer.
Minimal Consideration:
- Land designated by a party to comply with Town percentage requirements but does not meet “optimum consideration” standards.
- Land of such small size (in length or breadth) as to be a burden to monitor by the Town in perpetuity.
- Inaccessible land which holds no need for environmental protection AND has little or no likelihood that the property will change in character by development.
- Land not meeting a sound rationale for acceptance and evidence to support it.
Richard Serra, Senior Planner, SCCOG
Correspondence: Habitat newsletter: See p.8 for an important article on how CC’s can be effective in land-use review processes.
No identification of a worthy candidate for Aquarion honor
Member Forum:
Speh noted that the Naragansett (Blue) Trail runs through private property on the North Stonington/Voluntown border that holds a shooting range. Hikers have ignored warning signs and the organization no longer wants the liability. CC suggested he contact Mike Crutchley and CT Forest & Park Association who have jurisdiction .
Adjournment at 8:25 pm
Warren Speh, secretary pro tem
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