Town of Old Lyme Open Space Committee Meeting
Old Lyme Town Hall
Minutes: April 9, 2010
Chairman Diana Atwood Johnson opened the meeting at 08:45 am with OSC members Bruce Baratz, Peter Cable, Bob DePianta, Evan Griswold, George James, Ted Kiritsis, Teri Lewis and OLCT representative Sabine O’Donnell in attendance.
On a motion by Evan, seconded by Ted, it was voted to approve the OSC meeting minutes of March 12, 2010.
Chairman’s Report
a) Land Use Workshop
Diana announced that the land use workshop, involving all the Town land-use organizations, would be held in April 22, 2010 at 7 pm in Town Hall. As announced previously the workshop purpose is to review the OSC proposal to become a commission and to clarify the interactions and relationships of all the land-use groups.
b) Proposed subdivision open space regulations amendment
Diana reported that the revision to the open space provision in the Town’s subdivision regulation, as drafted by attorney Edward Casella, was generally acceptable to the Planning Commission. However, to provide time for review the Commission will discuss the draft amendment and vote on it at their next meeting.
George introduced a motion, seconded by Ted, to accept the proposed subdivision open space regulation revised amendment, as approved by the Planning Commission, to be sent to a public hearing. The motion passed unanimously.
Subdivisions
a) Lord’s Woods
Diana reminded the Committee that the Lord’s Woods developer can refinance if all property liens are subordinated to the debt to the lending bank. She reported that attorney Mark Block was noncommittal about the OSC proposal for granting a direct right-of-way to the development open space, in exchange for subordination of the OSC lien, but he was agreeable to meet with OSC about the matter.
Diana also reported that she had received an email from Jack Alexander, indicating that the level spreader was again not functioning. She also noted that the open space markers at Lord’s Woods had all, save one, been removed and placed together in a pile.
Properties
a) Kus property
Diana reported that the Kus representative, Art Bogen, had indicated that he would provide a listing of steps to be taken (that is a timeline and sequence of actions) in moving forward on the Town proposal for the Kus property.
b) Ames property
On motion by Evan, second by Ted, it was voted to go into executive session at 09:45 am. At 10:05 on motion by Bob, second by Bruce, it was voted to leave executive session. No actions were taken during executive session.
New Business
a) CT State of the Birds 2010 Report
Diana proposed that OSC undertake an inventory of Town properties over 10 acres, employing drive-by examination and online search, to identify the Audubon Society habitat category of each property. OSC members Teri Lewis, George James, Bob DePianta, Ted Kiritsis and Peter Cable agreed to participate in the survey, which is to be completed by the June OSC meeting.
Old Business
a) Trail Books
Teri reported that feedback from parents is that the existing trail books are not sufficiently helpful for use in trail exploration. She said that the parents also indicated that the trails are not well enough marked, that is, that the signage is not adequate. Following discussion of producing a new trail book, it was agreed that Spring 2011 would be the target date for a new trail book.
At 10:35, on a motion by Bob, second by Ted, it was voted to adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Peter Cable
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