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Conservation Commission Meeting
Old Lyme Town Hall
December 3, 2008, 6:30 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, Taffy Holland, George James, David
McCulloch, Tom Sherer
We met an hour early to view the Freedom of Information presentation, but the sound was not recorded properly, so we were unable to hear it.
(Ellie had emailed us the section on the rules for posting minutes and agendas in an email.)
Note: The talk will air on Comcast Public Access Channel 14 on Thursday, December 11, immediately following the 7:30 pm airing of the most recent Board of Selectmen meeting.
George read us a proposal he will present to the selectmen and Zoning, requesting a zoning change to the subdivision regulations. (Currently subdivisions are required to set aside land 15% for “parks, playgrounds, and recreation.” As the wetlands are not buildable, they are often included in the open space set-aside. However wetlands are also unsuitable for recreation.)
The proposal is to change the description of the open space requirement to allow no more than twenty percent of the acreage to be designated wetlands. The group voted unanimously to approve this change.
- Alternative Development Proposal
George outlined a proposal to change the zoning and subdivision regulations affecting about 590 acres owned by Eklund, Kus, Tooker, and Woodhead.Foster.
The proposal would change the minimum acreage from two to five, and ten, acres. In exchange, the Town would maintain a single road, and would benefit from lower costs for schools and social services. Most importantly, this would help to preserve the town’s rural character.
The group examined maps of this area and discussed the proposal at length.
As part of the item above, George emailed the commission members his ideas on the use of the 590 acres. He described our loss of rural areas, the trend toward large mansions, and the effect of development on Old Lyme – partially due to two acre zoning. He presented a number of things we can do to maintain what rural character we have left. This includes zoning changes to permit organic farming, including tree farming, fish farming, and raising animals, and also not allowing further subdivision of established lots, and the zoning proposals in item 3.
George presented us with a list of items to consider for the 2010 POCD. (At the meeting with Linda Krause she asked us to make such a list for CRERPA.) George would like the commission members to look over his list and make suggestions.
- End of Year report to selectmen
George will work on this.
AOB
- Ellie talked with the selectmen about creating a dog park at the end of the town garage road. She asked us to find out who owns it. She can ask some construction businesses if they are willing to donate fencing. It should also have a small corral for frightened or reluctant dogs.
- David said he and Taffy will meet with Mary Fiorelli at the Library to discuss setting up a dvd player with the pesticide video, giving them a copy of the dvd to loan out, and adding some pesticide info handouts.
- Dates for 2009 meetings: February 4, March 4, April 1, May 6, June 3, July 1, August 5, September 2, October 7, November 4, December 2.
Assignments
- Read George’s list of items for the 2010 POCD, and send him your comments and suggestions.
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