Minutes of the Old Lyme Conservation Commission
Christ the King Church
December 6, 2007, 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
Attending: Ted Crosby, Eleanor Czarnowski, Paul Dean, Taffy Holland, George James, Agnes O’Connor, David McCulloch, Marianne Pfeiffer, Tom Sherer
Visitor: Christina Macht, 67 Shore Road
1. Pedersen Plan
Ellie presented the Pedersen plan. Dave said they have done a lot of work on managing runoff and other water problems. There is a catch basin to prevent runoff. The plans have been in the works for a long time. Open space is determined by the location of vernal pools. Everything is underground, so there will be lots of blasting. E: No lighting is shown on the plans.
George asked if the road will be a town road. If so, it should be up to 2100’ to the end of the cul-de-sac.
Tom said there are four separate chunks of open space, but no parking pullover area is shown. Also there’s no overall view of the open space and easement in the plan. Dave said there is an overall view. Ellie said we should ask for it. We should have WPCA review the plans.
George said Open Space has reviewed the plans. Ellie said some of the open space is in the form of easements on the property owners. Who owns these easements? Ted said the proposed buffer around the subdivision is now gone. He asked who is going to monitor the open space and the easements. Until we have something from Planning we can’t pass on this.
Ted said we should ask Bob Doan to submit a CAD version of all of the plans. Then IT services can put it into GIS.
David said we should encourage the developer to go green. Tom offered to write a section on geothermal, etc.
Ellie said the CC letter must be submitted by the 13th. Ted said when we send the letter to Planning we should CC the town clerk. Then we can refer to it if necessary.
2. Christina Macht
Christina’s property overlooks Gaudio and TNC property. She is concerned about mowing, tree cutting, and excavation on TNC property off Smith Neck Road. She said this is being done by Dr. Gaudio. Dave Gumbart (TNC) said Gaudio may have gotten permission from TNC to do some mowing, but she says he has also had old bay bushes and other vegetation cleared away and is excavating fallen trees. It’s not clear if this is in the wetlands or tidal area. David said they can’t do that without a permit. TNC and Zoning could bring action IF this is within 100’ of the wetlands.
Christina asked the town clerk if Gaudio has a permit, and was told they couldn’t find one. She has tried to reach Ann Brown, and has spoken to the DEP, EPA, and Dave Gumbart. Dave came out and did a brief tour with Mrs. Gaudio, but she said he didn’t see the excavation area. At the request of DEP she took photos of all of the excavation equipment, and asked the crew to show her their permit. They pointed to the Gaudio house.
Ted said he can only be stopped by a Cease and Desist order. Dave said the contractor is equally liable if there isn’t a permit.
Ellie said so the DEP knows, TNC knows, and the town knows. The EPA called Christina Macht to tell her it isn’t under their jurisdiction. Ellie said she should follow up with Dave Gumbert. Also Dave McC will call Ann Brown.
3. Chairman’s Report
Ellie presented the town calendar. The calendar features the town open space trails, and contains important town dates. She will put some in the town hall, library, and other sites. There are 500 copies, and they’re free. The town will be billed by Essex Printing.
4. Natural Resources Inventory
Ted said natural resources are now part of our website. Most of it was derived from state information (for example, endangered species). The wetlands map dates from the last drought. Ellie said it should be updated with current information.
Ted said Janet Bechtel gave him a link to Guilford’s POCD. Chapter 7 is concerned with preserving natural resources. Ted will email the link to the group. He said we have two flood maps; 100 year and 500 year disasters, and the storm surge map - all on the web site.
George said new zoning regulations are now dealing with storm surge. That might affect Point O’Woods. Ted said if a disaster changes the topography radically, Dave Roberge (the Health and Fire Departments) might condemn the big houses on the Shore Road, which would have a big impact on the town tax base.
5. POCD
Ellie said we have nothing. We could pull something together for Planning. George said Planning should focus on greenways. Ted said we need to describe a lot by lot greenway. Ellie said we agreed to go over a map to plan a greenway. Dave said there are state funds ($500?) for planning greenways.
6. Rogers Lake Project
George said Fred Holth has proposed a project called Landscaping for Healthy Lakes. There would be a competition among homeowners. Marianne Pfeiffer’s booklet could be used as a guide. The winner would get about $500. George said they should put the $500 in the budget. He also said they should put up barriers for the geese - they like a straight shot to the water.
Ellie said Marianne’s booklet is now on the town website as a PDF. Dave said it’s also in the 2007 town phonebook. Printed copies might be more useful.
7. Conservation-Minded Volunteers
Ellie asked everyone to try to recruit more members. Sabine O’Donnell is a possibility.
Agnes said the garden club is re-landscaping the Post Office with native plants. A letter of support from the Conservation Commission would help them as they ask for contributions. Agnes will send a copy of their proposal to Ellie, and she will respond.
Ted said the Old Lyme Conservation Trust could use the old plants for the banks of the fishway – the Tripp’s view. They’re mostly azaleas, Agnes said.
Marianne said Julie Mactel is the girl-scout leader looking for projects. They could help plant. Ted said Mundy Hepburn would help with the fairy circle at Watch Rock.
8. PRCD
George said new zoning regulations are coming up on Dec. 10th at 7:30 in the school. He said most of the Open Space recommendations were accepted – but there are no incentives for an additional 10% increase of open space, nor for allowing 5% additional houses for deeded public access to open space. They also left out allowing community septic systems on open space fields. He said plans that allowing for open fields increases the habitat for birds.
Look for the meeting notice on the town website. Try to attend.
9. New Business
Agnes said the town picked up all the leaves from the street on Jericho. They’re taking them to Kus at $40 per load. They’re composted at Kus.
Remember - no January meeting.
Assignments
· Ellie will write Planning a letter about Pedersen plans and CC the town clerk. Letter is due on December 13th.
· Tom will supply a “green” section for the Pedersen letter.
· Ted said he would ask Bob Doan to submit a CAD version of the Pedersen plans to IT
· Dave will talk with Ann Brown about Christina Macht’s complaints, and arrange a walk of TNC property.
· Ellie will distribute copies of the town calendar.
· Ted will email the group a link to Chapter 7 of Guilford’s Plan Of Conservation Development.
· Everyone should to try to recruit new members.
· Agnes will send Ellie a copy of their proposal to re-landscape the Post Office, and Ellie will reply with a letter of support.
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