Minutes of the Old Lyme Conservation Commission
July 5, 2006, 7:00 pm
Members: Ted Crosby (ex-officio representing Gateway Commission)
Eleanor Czarnowski
Paul Dean
Taffy Holland
George James
David McCulloch
Agnes O’Connor
Marianne Pfeiffer
Tom Sherer
Mike Silberberg
Attending: Ted Crosby, Eleanor Czarnowski, Paul Dean, Taffy Holland, George James, David McCulloch, Agnes O’Connor, Marianne Pfeiffer, Mike Silberberg
The group accepted the minutes from June 7, 2006.
Action Items from the April Minutes
Ellie held off sending Planning the list of the commission’s recommendations for FMTM development – needs more discussion (see item 7, below).
Ellie is now on the Selectmen’s agenda to present the 2005 Annual Report and she will also hand out copies of the Trails booklet.
Ellie will add CC members’ phone numbers to the letter to Sophie Marsh (that says we support them in their efforts to get the school buses to use biodiesel).
Ellie will give Ted a PDF file of the trails map booklet for the town and OCLT web sites.
Ellie will give copies of the Trail Booklet to the sponsors, and to the town committees and the selectmen.
Marianne has distributed copies of her booklet, and LymeLine has her paragraph about the booklet.
Taffy’s daughter is making a pdf of Marianne’s booklet for several websites.
Trail Booklets
Ellie distributed copies to the Conservation Commission members. She will give copies to each of the sponsors and distribute them to the other commissions.
Brett Painting (156 and Four Mile River Road)
This application is for building modifications (additional office space) to the second floor. Application also mentions maintaining less than the required number of parking spaces.
IW originally asked them if they plan to store paint – a spill could endanger the Four Mile River. Members have seen a lot of paint cans in the storage area. Also Ellie said they park a white truck on the grass right at the corner, which could be a traffic hazard.
Agnes said the actual landscaping doesn’t look like the landscaping on the original plan. This application includes landscaping. Septic system is a 1000 gallon tank – no leaching field shown on plans.
Conservation Commissions will ask about the septic system and leaching and reserve fields, and the buffer zone plantings. Dave said IW will also ask about the buffer zones, and will ask Ann to review the original meeting minutes for any discussion about paint storage.
Old Lyme Country Club paddle tennis courts
Ellie said the commission has already discussed this in detail. Dave had asked for analysis of pesticides from the outflow, and results were ok. Snarsky reassured him that they could take care of the levels of nutrients (phosphates and nitrates). Commission will stick to their original comments.
Trails Booklets
As discussed above, Ellie will distribute copies to sponsors and commissions, and strategic town sites. Dave took some for the library. The cost was over $2.50 per booklet. Town held her to printing 500 copies
Watercourse Planting Booklet
Marianne had 600 copies printed. She has 30 left. Dave and Ellie gave her enough cash for another 75 copies.
FMTM Letter
Conservation commission letter states concerns about use of lawn chemicals and salt on roads.
Diana had issues with the 50’ buffer – she suggested 10’ buffer to Ellie. George said the regulations are clear – they require 50 feet between subdivisions. Ellie said the commission could say that 50’ buffers are becoming the norm. Dave will look up the regulations. George said the wood road is the divider between the properties.
George said the idea was to create a 50’ walkway/buffer protecting the old access road. Then the State may grant a right of way over the road – access to the 120 acres of Schmidt property open space, which is now surrounded by private properties.
Pesticide Committee
Dave described the Foster development. The houses will be in the 1.5 million-dollar range. The gardening will be done by a service.
Dave wrote to Dr. Silbert proposing a meeting between Dave, Silbert, Merve Roberts, George James, and Goldcamp with the goal of proposing to the developer that a green, pesticide-free development should be attractive to the potential buyers – especially in light of the trend toward environmental concerns and away from pesticide use.
Lee Griswold Purchase and Sale
This 53-odd acre plan will be presented at the next Selectmen’s meeting. George said that 11.8 acres next to the state rest area on 156 not part the bargain. The remainder is about 42 acres – 12.5 on Buttonball, and about 28 on 156. The Connecticut Water Company has made overtures to use the land for well locations. The price to the town is around $400,000. George said Open Space should come to the Conservation Commission first, before going to the other commissions.
Organic Workshop
The attendance was very low – the weather was bad. Agnes said there was almost nothing there. The NOFA speaker from Holdridges didn’t show up. Maureen Plumleigh had a booth with someone from UCONN showing fescue grasses. Dave told him that endophytic grasses are very toxic to horses and cattle.
The next workshop is for soil sampling. It is scheduled for the Town weekend festivities.
Rogers Lake Education Plan and Vegetative Assessment
George hasn’t heard from Maureen Plumleigh yet. He wants to get information into the Rogers Lake newsletter. Ellie said it’s also a good place to advertise Marianne’s booklet. Paul had a copy of the May issue, but there was nothing about the booklet. He said they have monthly meetings. Marianne should give them a bunch of booklets for their next meeting.
George said Holth asked IW for permission to do mechanical cutting of the water-weeds. It’s being done in a very shallow area. It will have to be done repeatedly. The harvested weeds are spread out and dried. They should make very good compost.
PRCD letter
Ellie said there has been no response from Zoning – not even an acknowledgement. Ellie will call Kim at Planning and see if they’re going to consider it.
Trails Day
It was almost rained out. Ellie did Lohman and Champlain North. The three of them saw a fisher on the Lohman property. They were driven away by the mosquitoes on Champlain North.
Conservation Easement Ordinance
George said it’s on the next (Open Space?) agenda. Mattern recommended having an ordinance that can enforce the easement terms. Ellie said there’s more enforcement at the State level now. George said the state even requires replacement of illegally cut trees plus a fine of 3 times the value of the stumpage. Ted said we should look at the State’s enabling legislation and use it to beef up the ordinance. (Reference The Habitat publication – www.CACIWC.com )
Forester’s Report for North and South Champlain
George said it will be ready for the next Open Space meeting.
Protecting Open Space
George said the Old Lyme Conservation Trust agreed to have the same rules and The Nature Conservancy and the Town for protecting open space. The town forbids trapping and hunting, but OLCT does not.
Peterson Property
George said this is 53 acres. The town provided $140,000 toward the total purchase price. It’s not clear who owns it, the town or TNC. No deed is registered in Old Lyme. Open Space is pursuing this.
Greenway Maps and Designations
Ellie said Leslie Lewis wants them for the state web page. She has no record of what Ted submitted. Ted and George will find the material and resend it.
Request to Install Pier
The DEP has a request for a permit to install a fixed pier, ramp, and float pilings at 24 Neck Road. The town clerk has the application. Ellie will send the Conservation Commissions form letter about lumber, lighting, and so forth.
Trust for Public Land
ELLIE edit: This is from the CC mailbox. It mentions funding for coastal open space – I need more info here – are there meetings on July 20th and 27th? I can’t find the copies. Did someone else pick them up?
Assignments
Ellie will send Planning the list of the commission’s recommendations for FMTM development including 50” buffer zones.
Ellie will present the 2005 Annual Report to the Selectmen and will hand out copies of the Trails booklet.
Ellie will add CC members’ phone numbers to the letter to Sophie Marsh (that says we support them in their efforts to get the school buses to use biodiesel).
Ellie will give Ted a PDF file of the trails map booklet for the town and OCLT web sites.
Ellie will give copies of the Trail Booklet to the sponsors, and to the town committees and the selectmen.
Anna Holland will send a pdf of the Watercourses booklet to Ellie.
Ellie will submit letter regarding Brett Painting about the septic system and leaching and reserve fields, and the buffer zone plantings.
Dave said Inland Wetlands will ask Brett Painting about the buffer zones, and he will ask Ann to review the original meeting minutes for any discussion about paint storage.
Ellie will call Kim at Planning and see if they’re going to consider the PRCD letter from the commission.
Ted and George will find the Greenways material and resend it to Leslie Lewis for the state web page.
Ellie will send the Conservation Commissions form letter about lumber, lighting, and so forth for the application for a pier at 24 Neck Road.
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