OLD LYME CONSERVATION COMMISSION, OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE BUSINESS MEETING, 4/7/06
The committee met at the Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall at 8:30 a.m., Chairperson Diana Johnson presiding. Present were Ted Kirtisis, Ted Crosby, Dave McCullough, George James, Blair Hoxby, Evan Griswold and Amanda Blair.
A motion was made to correct the minutes of the last meeting however not everyone received a copy of the last meeting minutes so it was decided to put off approving the minutes until the next meeting.
It was decided that the minutes from the workshop were to be treated as notes and not minutes. Therefore Jennifer Hill house’s notes from the workshop were accepted as notes and not minutes.
PROPERTY UPDATES:
PROPOSED ACQUISITIONS:
Bob Doane, rep for Patterson/ Bill Hill subdivision was invited to the meeting twice however he did not show up.
There was discussion on the Lords Cove Landing subdivision concerning the buffer zone, septic systems and drainage. We would like to acquire fee interest in a 100’ strip of land along the Connecticut River. There was then discussion on a buffer along the Lomas property.
EXECUTIVE MEETING DISCUSSION
Blair Hoxby made a motion to not pursue purchasing the 11-acre Buttonball Rd property if it was subject to prior leases to the Connecticut Water Company. The motion was seconded, George James and Ted Crosby voted against the motion, everyone else voted for the motion and the motion was passed.
George and Ted C. stated that they did not want to “kill the deal” and the general consensus was that we all agreed that we did not want to “kill the deal”.
There were no updates on the Ben Franklin Property-there will be a walk in the future and an appraisal is underway. There was a question concerning access but in a discussion with Ann Brown it was stated that there was a 50’ access strip.
There are no updates on the Cherrystone’s parcel. We are waiting for the owner (Montaro) to return from Florida. George said that he had a discussion with Don Broeder who indicated that there would be a fair amount of land for open space, the existing tree line would be preserved and there would be walkways through the entire parcel including a bridge across the bog connecting the parcel to existing open space on Otter Rock Road. This would be an age-restricted project.
The Broadbrook application is back at the Wetlands Committee.
The Foster PRCD on Four Mile River Road shows 35 houses. We should request a strip along the existing 100’ R/W for parking and public access.
PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS:
Hatchett’s Hill Subdivision: There was discussion concerning a request for a fee in lieu vs. a lot for open space. Their proposed open space parcel contains a significant amount of wetland and the lot adjoining the open space parcel would require a driveway trough the wetlands. It was decided to hold off on voting on land for the open space.
BUDGET:
According to our Chairperson, there was no support for our budget request by the First Selectman Tim Griswold or by the Finance Committee. This committee would receive $50,000. per year for Open Space Acquisitions but there would be no Open Space Manager. There is ongoing discussion concerning someone from DPW to assist us once a month. Diana will pursue this.
George James showed the committee the Old Lyme Conservation Trust emblem and also reported that a State Forrest person is to review Champlin North and South
It was requested that Amanda Blair research the Peterson parcel on Saunders Hollow and Route 156 to see if was deeded to the town.
Ted Crosby brought to the Committee’s attention the Old Lyme Tax Collector’s sale of real estate for delinquent taxes. The committee reviewed the parcels up for sale and then discussed the sale of the Windward Group open space parcel. This parcel was to be deeded to the Homeowners Association but it was never created Amanda Blair agreed to research this parcel, review it with Marilyn Clarke, the Town Attorney and to report back to the committee.
Diana and George mentioned the Old Lyme Conservation Trust Trails brochure. They have received over $950.00 in contributions towards publishing the brochure and are looking for additional funding sources, possibly the Town.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 a.m.
Amanda Blair
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