Conservation Commission Meeting
Old Lyme Town Hall
September 3, 2008, 7:30 pm
Members: Ted Crosby (ex-officio representing Gateway Commission)
Eleanor Czarnowski
Francine Gumkowski
Taffy Holland
George James
Janice Kraus
David McCulloch
Agnes O’Connor
Tom Sherer
Attending: Ted Crosby, Eleanor Czarnowski, Francine Gumkowski, Taffy Holland, George James, Janice Kraus, Tom Sherer
1. August Minutes
Accepted.
2. Last Month’s Action Items
· Ellie wrote to Zoning about the proposed changes to the regulations, and George said the Zoning Commission lawyer wrote a scathing rebuttal, so the proposal was withdrawn.
· Item: Dave will send Agnes info about the pesticide DVD, list of pesticides and health problems, and the name of a good speaker. Dave was absent tonight.
· Ellie will write a letter to Planning with suggestions for the Questionnaire and a copy of the Old Saybrook POCD. – See Agenda item 3, below.
3. POCD 2010 Input to Planning
The group discussed the items in George’s list of suggested additions to the POCD.
See the attached document.
4. Mike Kiernan
Ellie said Mike Kiernan works the Old Lyme Conservation Trust, but would like to do more. He was interested in the Open Space Committee. Ted said yes, there’s room in the committee.
5. Tooker Property
Proposed regulation changes were withdrawn. We should present an alternative plan to the Finance Board, showing the cost of services for the development; for example, close to a million dollars for 48+/- children more in the school, rebuilding two roads, etc. They’re asking six million from the town for open space. Ted said Howard Tooker still owns the property, so the town could buy just the building rights. Ellie said Mike Kiernan is very interested in getting it for the town.
6. Status of Raking Rogers Lake
George said he thinks they’re not doing it. Ellie said someone told her they’re definitely raking. She saw the machine.
7. Reusable Grocery Bags
Ellie and Taffy are looking at bags for sale, and thinking about what to put on them. Tom offered to do a logo or design. Francine said the Chamber of Commerce is looking for a project, and this might interest them. She suggested asking Cathy Frank.
8. Asking Town Merchants to go “Plastic Bag Free”
People suggested putting up signs to remind customers to bring along their reusable bags, and asking merchants to make reusable bags available and/or to charge for plastic bags.
9. Cell Tower Follow-up
Ted said the siting council decides where to put cell towers. He also said the towers emit radiation. George will follow up on a possible site near Cross Lane.
10. Deer Sign Follow-up
No sign yet. Taffy will send contact information to Ellie.
Assignments
· George will follow up on a possible cell tower site near Cross Lane
· Taffy will send deer sign contact information to Ellie
Year 2010 POCD
After a careful rereading of the document and a conversation with Ann Brown, I believe the existing document is one we should endorse without change. We may wish to add a few items.
In that regard , may I suggest a few items for consideration.
1. Develop a concerted effort to reduce car usage in town. How? Obviously, safer bike trails, bike competitions for kids, safe bike routes for kids going to school, and sidewalks. The Bow Bridge Hall’s Road to scenic overlook project should be pursued.. Hold the Planning Commission to the specific requirement that all new subdivisions plan for parks, picnic areas, and playgrounds as currently called for in the subdivision regulations. Miano is a case in point. They have to drive everywhere to do anything.
2. In that same vein. Revise current regulations so as to permit private roads where soil and terrain permit. This reduces the town’s plowing and maintenance budgets and retains the rural quality of the town. AWWA is a good example of what not to do.
3. Make a more concerted enforcement effort to remove junk cars from residential neighborhoods.
4. Establish a recurrent town fund for the acquisition of property for affordable housing when it becomes available through foreclosure or failure to pay taxes.
5. Cite Rogers Lake and its drainage basin as a natural resource of utmost importance.
Create an area of special concern in this area. The purpose is to reduce phosphorous from entering the lake by reducing runoff from 90 new homes being built in this area.
6. Continue the practice of requiring seasonal dwellings to meet not only health code requirements prior to conversion to year round use but also to meet all the zoning requirements stated in the 1966 Housing Ordinance with subsequent amendments.
If and when all cottages at POW get public water and sewers, zoning requirements still have to be met before conversion is allowed.
7. Encourage homeowners who have existing difficult septic problems to enter into agreements with manufacturers of high tech systems so that these systems function as they should.
8. Encourage the increased use of water saving devices, deepening of shallow wells, and energy saving techniques. Encourage the planting of trees and shrubs and the reduction of lawns and lawn chemicals.
9. When accidents occur on I-95, have local police control the speed of traffic on Boston Post Road and Shore Road.
10. Gateway regulations should be adopted. Examine the Coastal Wetlands Act to determine what the town can do to enforce stricter regulations in the tidal area.
11. As part of the emergency disaster plan, set up a bonding plan for the town to purchase distressed shoreline property for future public use.
12. Make sure that the town is designated to enforce the terms of all conservation easements dealing with open space. Eliminate the practice of clear cutting in new subdivisions.
| 
