Minutes of the Old Lyme Conservation Commission
April 5, 2006, 7:00 pm
Members: Ted Crosby (ex-officio representing Gateway Commission)
Eleanor Czarnowski
Taffy Holland
George James
David McCulloch
Agnes O’Connor
Marianne Pfeiffer
Tom Sherer
Mike Silberberg
Attending: Ted Crosby, Eleanor Czarnowski, Taffy Holland, George James, David McCulloch, Marianne Pfeiffer, Tom Sherer, Mike Silberberg
Visitor: Paul Dean (applicant for membership in the Commission)
Action Items from the March Minutes
Diebolt has withdrawn his application
Ted passed out the Stormwater Report contribution for the Annual Report
Ellie has written to Carnell about the ant mounds
Mike, George, Ellie attended a workshop and discussed PRCD presentation to planning
Amtrak application has been approved with stipulations
Agnes couldn’t come tonight; was to report on Garden Club and trimming bushes on the Connecticut River access ramp
David will pursue getting someone to talk about Connecticut birds of greatest conservation needs
Annual Report
Ellie emailed the draft annual report to the group. She will incorporate Ted’s Stormwater section in the final version.
Planning and Open Space Workshop
George, Ellie, Mike had a meeting. Mike told the group that the commission was interested in Planned Residential Cluster/Conservation Development (PRCD) and could suggest incentives to use it. Zoning wants written changes. Conservation Commission will submit changes. Ted Kritsis said he needs ideas and details for a rewrite of the regulations. PRCD is not used, or not used properly. The goal is to maximize incentives for making open space mandatory. The goal is 50% open space.
The group discussed the conservation easement document. George handed out UCONN’s list of Easement Elements. Someone (?) will compare this with the model easement Mike distributed. Mattern said they want easement regulations to become an ordinance so that they can be enforced. Diana Johnson will write it up. She wants Open Space to be responsible for inspecting all conservation easements. This requires regulatory authority for both inspection and enforcement. George said the commission could do what was done for WPCA. Requires a review board. He said Fred Holt, head of the Rogers Lake Authority is very knowledgeable about easements – would be a good choice for running the board.
Miano – Ongoing Site Work in Wetlands
Ellie said Miano has started to work in the wetlands on this 28-acre property. This is just as the peepers started. They shouldn’t work in March and April. The culverts are in. There’s no deed or definition of the open space and wetlands property.
Planning commission accepted the wetlands and ravine as open space. Ted said it was supposed to be developed within a homeowner’s association. The homeowners actually own the open space.
This case and the 13-house tract behind the old Silo restaurant triggered this discussion. Developer said owner didn’t want the required open space at the front of the road. This was followed by Miano. Requirement was for one acre of open space. Here again Zoning ignored its own regulations.
FMTM (Broad Brook) Site Walk
The walk is scheduled for April 15th. Plans are back in Inland Wetlands – there are still three water crossings. Road was moved. Big retaining wall is gone. They are still arguing about some part of the plans (drainage?). Someone (Janet?) suggested asking a hydrologist to do a study.
It’s part of the Rogers Lake watershed. Open Space denied purchasing it the first time. The group suggests trying again. OLCT tried unsuccessfully. George said someone should inform realtors and any prospective buyers about the problems with trespassing, and, Mike said, also about noise from the Stone’s Ranch firing range.
Pederson Preliminary Review
Ellie invited Bob Doane to discuss this 90-acre property near old Bill Hill Road. Lot of wetlands, lot of vernal pools. He didn’t respond.
Lord Cove (Village Estate)
Plans show a gigantic rock detention basin. Ellie asked if CC should write to Zoning. She thinks it should be made more attractive. Ellie supplied a link to plans for a much better looking detention basin in Farmington Hills. Ted said it was designed by a DEP engineer who also added metal guard rails that are all out of proportion to the development. The developer doesn’t like the basin or the guard rails. CC could write supporting the developer. (David said he thought someone else designed it – maybe someone from Wheaton & Jacobson?) Group discussed the access road, and whether a firetruck could get through.
Ted said if they eliminate two of the parcels bordering Lohman (by purchase – Open Space) they could get rid of the detention basin, get rid of two houses, and also save a lot of tree trimming. Ted said they must pursue this in Open Space.
It will be discussed in Open Space on Friday. George said the septic system is in the proposed open space, so trees can’t be planted there. Should be rejected. They have already cut all the evergreens on the lower terrace, for the septic system. Tom questioned this. David said Zoning hasn’t accepted Gateway, which would have prevented that. He said there are high (up to treble) damage costs for cutting trees on someone else’s property.
Old Lyme Country Club
Ellie has a copy of the plans from Janet, not from Zoning. The proposal includes two ponds (made by filling wetlands) for drainage. Original drainage went across the road. Dave took pictures of dead birds in the area. Plans call for 2 parking lots (48 spaces), paddle tennis courts, and a maintenance building. The plan will create two new wetlands. Net loss will be zero. A culvert (“tiny pipe”) will connect the 2 new wetlands.
Dave asked the applicant for (herbicide, pesticide, fertilizer) analysis of the water draining from the golf course into the original ponds. They had planned to drain one of the ponds. George has the test results. They probably didn’t test for anything very complicated. The wells in the immediate area were tested too.
Ellie said huge spotlights at the top of the hill light up the whole sky at night. Conservation Commission should write a letter asking them to fix the lighting. Tom said they’ll be putting in even more lights for paddle tennis and parking lots. Ellie will compile the comments and send a letter around.
Trail Booklet
Ellie presented the booklet and printing plans at the selectmen’s meeting, who didn’t say no. She mailed letters to possible sponsors. Deadline is April 30th. The final version is ready for the printer. Printing goal is the 2nd week of May – one thousand copies, at $2.50 per book.
Buffer Planting Booklet
Marianne showed the current draft of the booklet. Janet has looked at it and likes it. Marianne will finish making the ink drawings, and will pursue making an electronic version of the booklet for printing.
Ted said this type of planting should be part of the ordinance.
Gardening and Lawn Care Seminar
George contacted Agnes. He said the Duck River Garden Club calendar is full for the year, but they would be willing to join a workshop. He said we should invite lawn-care people, Rogers lake homeowners, two local hardware storeowners, Holdridges (East Lyme), etc. George contacted Diana Blair from the Congregational Church Environmental Committee – she hasn’t responded yet.
George showed the group a publication (“an excellent booklet”) from the New England Organic Farming Association – NOFA Standards for Organic Land Care. He says he needs support from the Conservation Commission and WPCA. Goal is to get people to go organic – part of the Pesticide Awareness committee. This should be a town program, not just for Rogers Lake.
The seminar should be outdoors on a Saturday – the Senior Center might be the best location. People will need to bring their own chairs. Best time is probably the second week in June. David suggested inviting Dave Harlow, an organic farmer from White Gate Farms (Pattagansett Lake, East Lyme).
David and Ellie volunteered to help with letters, invitations, etc. Tom will make sure Diana Blair responds.
Biodiesel
George said Willie Nelson is now promoting biodiesel (www.wnbiodiesel.com). Can be used in standard diesel engines – minimal modification. Ellie asked about ethanol plus gasoline. George said we’re interested in the buses to begin with. Ellie said promotion should be regional. Ted said the state would be interested too. George suggested talking to Marilyn Giuliano, David suggested Andrea Stillman. Tom said the particulate problems are mostly solved now – especially in Europe. He said there’s a concern about competition between agricultural and energy requirements.
LymeTimes Deadline
The deadline for submissions is April 28th. Group discussed sending David’s new pesticide section to the editor. Marianne will send a couple of lines about her booklet, and Ellie will send a couple of lines about the trail booklet.
Assignments
Ellie will add Ted’s Stormwater to the Annual Report
David will get someone to talk about Connecticut birds of greatest conservation needs
Some member of the Conservation Commission should write a letter asking Old Lyme Country Club to fix the lighting
Ellie will compile the Gold Course comments and send a letter around.
Marianne will write a couple of lines about her booklet for the Lyme Times
Ellie will write about the trail booklet for the Lyme Times
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