Town of Old Lyme Open Space Committee Meeting
Old Lyme Town Hall
Minutes: March 12, 2010
Chairman Diana Atwood Johnson opened the meeting at 08:40 am with OSC members Amanda Blair, Peter Cable, Bob DePianta, Evan Griswold, George James, Ted Kiritsis, Teri Lewis and OLCT liaison Christina Clayton in attendance. Also in attendance was Shannon Chapman, a junior at LOL High School, to discuss her proposed open space-related project for the Girl Scout Gold Award.
On a motion by Bob seconded by Ted, it was voted to approve the OSC meeting minutes of February 12, 2010.
Chairman’s Report
Diana officially introduced and welcomed Teri as an OSC member.
a) Open Space Commission
Diana reported on developments regarding the OSC proposal and draft charter to transform OSC to an Open Space Commission. Diana said that the sense of the Planning Commission is that it is a good idea. Diana said that the Selectmen have proposed that a workshop involving all the Town land-use organizations be held in April 2010 to review the OSC proposal and to clarify the interactions and relationships of all the land-use groups.
b) Open space regulation revision
Diana reported on the OSC proposed revision to open space regulations discussed at the Planning Commission meeting of March 4, 2010 that she had attended. Diana felt that there had been a productive and open discussion of open space regulation issues at the meeting and that progress had been made. It was agreed that there would be a second Planning Commission discussion of the proposed open space regulation revision. It was also agreed that there would be an introductory paragraph to the open space regulations expressing the intent of providing open space.
Subdivisions
a) Lord’s Woods development
Diana reported that a check for $5, 000 (on the $75,000 owed by the Lord’s Woods developer) has been received. Diana also received a letter, dated March 12, 2010, from attorney Mark Block, indicating that the Lord’s Woods development representative would like to meet with OSC about the OSC proposal for granting a direct right-of-way to the development open space.
b) FMTM development
It was noted that the FMTM property is back on the market.
c) Old Lyme Heights
Diana reported that there had been no new activity on the Old Lyme Heights development.
Girl Scout Gold Medal Open Space Project
Shannon Chapman described a project she is undertaking to earn a Girl Scout Gold Medal. Shannon’s project will focus on generating sustainable interest in and knowledge about the Town’s open space trail system and in promoting use of the system by grade school students and their families. Several ideas about content of the project were discussed including providing sign-in boxes at the trails, trail booklets, outdoor awareness tutoring, trail cleanup days. etc. There was also discussion of ideas for promoting the project. Shannon intends to have her proposal completed and approved by the latter half of May, this year. Several OSC members expressed interest in serving as a resource for Shannon as she continues her project plans.
Property Report
a) Kus property
Diana reported that the Kus’s are working on a response to the Town proposal on their property. Evan inquired, were the proposal to be accepted, if that obviates plans for the road through from Lord’s Woods and Diana responded that it does.
OLCT report
Christina presented a report on OLCT activities. She noted that the Trust is redoing their trailhead signs. She also reported on OLCT plans coordinating with the Girl Scouts on their Earth Day trail cleanup project. With regard to trail cleanup, George recommended that OSC propose that the Town crew provide about 10 hours of cleanup per year on Town trails.
New Business
a) Open space plan discussion
With reference to the OSC listing of prioritized open space opportunities, Diana exhibited a map she had prepared showing the location of the potential open space opportunities (including properties of both high and low priority). The map clearly displayed the connectedness, and therefore the attractiveness from a grand plan vantage, of the different properties. There was discussion of the status of the various properties of greatest interest.
At 11:05, on a motion by Evan, second by Bob, it was voted to adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Peter Cable
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