June 26, 2006
Stonington Police Station
1. Call to order: Called to order by acting Secretary Ben Baldwin at 6:15 pm. Commission members in attendance were Bell, Herbst and Lyons. Chairman Simm arrived at 6:17 pm and took the chair. Member Swenarton arrived at 6:45 pm; Dewire and Cole were absent. Town Planner Brynes, a reporter and Dora Hill were present.
2. Review of Town Developments and Proposals.
2a. Pre-application review of subdivision of 25.99 acre property for Greg Culver. Property located at New London Turnpike (Rt. 184), Map 138 Block 3 Lot 7. Zone GBR-130. Town Planner Brynes reported that the applicant had asked to be removed from the agenda.
2b. PZ0643SD Carl F. Fusaro, Jr. (Jameson Court) - Application for an 11-lot subdivision of two (2) parcels (2.3 acres total). Property located at 13 Palmer Street, Pawcatuck. Assessor’s Map 4 Block 6 Lots 1 & 13. Zone DB-5. This subdivision was first reviewed by the Conservation Commission on 2/22/2005 as Palmer Crossing (PZ0510SD) when a recommendation of a fee in lieu of open space was recommended. This application is substantially the same. MOTION: The Conservation Commission recommends a fee-in-lieu of open space and that the 5-foot wide pedestrian easement shown on the plan dated 6/1/2006 from the north end of the cul-de-sac to the laneway should be open to the public (Bell, Lyons). Passed unanimously.
2c. PZ0639ZC & CAM Mark & Joyce Ballou - Application for Zone Change approval to designation of MC-80, and a Coastal Area Management Review. Property located at Riverside Dr., Pawcatuck, CT. Assessor’s Map 9 Block 1 Lot 2. Zone RC-120. Previously reviewed on 4/24/2006 (PZ0629ZC), but then withdrawn and reapplied. No comment.
Alicia Betty of the Trust for Public Land (TPL) arrived at 6:30 pm. MOTION: Move to item 3d (Bell, Baldwin). Passed unanimously.
3d. Discussion of Trust for Public Land Feasibility Study and Open Space Bonding Options with Alicia Betty of Trust for Public Land. Betty stated how a bonding committee, independent from the Conservation Commission, would have to be organized and that Kim Gilman of TPL’s Boston office could assist with strategy and campaign planning. She stated that the Walsh property would have to have its house lot split off before applying for DEP funding. Dora Hill and Jennifer Herbst were nominated as and accepted the roles of co-chairs of the campaign committee working toward getting a bonding referendum on the November ballot. The committee is independent and cannot use public Conservation Commission funds.
Kevin Essington of the Nature Conservancy’s Borderlands Project office in North Stonington arrived at 6:50 pm and spoke about the Town of East Greenwich, RI approval of an $8M bond for open space conservation last April. He said that this was a special case where three parcels (1,700± acres) were identified and recognized by the public to be in peril and the town manager was leading in favor of the bonding. 670 of 1,800 registered voters attended to vote. The message spread was that this is a legacy opportunity in town. The bonding was recognized to be for the 3 specific properties. He suggested getting as diverse a group on the campaign as possible including the Economic Development Commission and Rotarians.
MOTION: Move to executive session for discussion with two members of the public who had arrived at 7:00 pm (Baldwin, Bell). Passed unanimously. Other members of the public and press departed. Baldwin and Lyons departed at 8:30 pm. MOTION: to get out of Executive Session (Bell, Herbst). Passed unanimously. Lyons returned. MOTION: Return to item 3a. (Bell, Lyons). Passed unanimously.
3. Open Space Committee
3a. Open space plan update – discussion on parcels for preservation. Nothing new to discuss.
3b. Discussion on parcels for preservation in Pawcatuck – Ben. Not discussed at this time.
3c. Discussion of Walsh Property. Herbst asked if it was possible for Conservation Commission to pay for appraisal of Walsh property. Conservation Commission members feel an appraisal should be done after property is surveyed and subdivided.
4. Old Business
4a. Report on PZC Open Space Subcommittee. Nothing to discuss.
4b. Mystic River Dam Committee. Nothing to discuss.
5. New Business
5a. Discussion on parcel for preservation. Executive session was held earlier.
5b.Planning for global warming and sea level rise. Swenarton to obtain data on sea level rise in LI Sound.
5c. Report on 2005-2006 budget:
Reimbursement for Jennifer Herbst $21.98
Naturescapes - Barn Island and Spellman Park Field Trips $1,700.00
First Student Buses for Field Trips $550.00
Connecticut Land Conservation Council (membership) $100.00
TNC Borderlands Project membership and Barn Island addition acquisition $300.00
Avalonia Land Conservancy $250.00
Connecticut College Arboretum $50.00
CACIWC $60.00
Wood Pawcatuck Watershed Association $250.00
Stonington Historical Society Library (facilities for document preservation) $190.00
TPL on-going professional services for land acquisition $775.00
Turned back to Town $129.00
5d. Arrange for meeting with Rep. Diana Urban on open space preservation and bill to grandfather properties in areas affected by zone changes - Chairman Simm to contact Ms. Urban and set up a meeting.
5e. Other
Town Planner was asked about request to amend Open Space Development Regulations to include a percentage of uplands in the Preservation Area. It was suggested that the percentage of uplands in the Preservation Area reflect the percentage of uplands in the entire parcel. No change to the regulations has been made. The public hearing is set for July 25, 2006 and Conservation Commission members are encouraged to attend to voice support of this amendment. Town Planner will send/email a copy of the draft regulations with our recommendations to all Conservation Commission members. Recommendations will be discussed further at the next regular meeting on July 24th, and the comments will be forwarded to PZC for the public hearing.
6. Review of May 22, 2006 meeting minutes. MOTION: To approve the minutes as written (Bell, Lyons). Passed unanimously.
7. Motion to Adjourn (Swenarton). Meeting adjourned at 9:50 pm.
Respectfully submitted, with minutes recorded after 8:30 pm by Jennifer Herbst, by
Ben Baldwin, Acting Secretary
Approved at a regular meeting of the Conservation Commission on July 24, 2006
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