REGULAR MEETING
ENFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION
TUESDAY, June 10, 2008
A meeting of the Enfield Conservation Commission was held on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 in the Enfield Room Enfield Town Hall, 820 Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut. Chairperson Mike Dynia called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mike Dynia, Chairman
Everett Gamble (Alternate Member)
Natalie George
Joanne Kneiss, (Alternate Member)
Karen LaPlante
Tim McGuire
Gretchen Pfeifer-Hall
Richard Szewczak
Kathleen Vose (Alternate Member) 7:13 p.m.
ALSO PRESENT: Richard Alsbaugh, Assistant Town Planner
Susan Berube, Recording Secretary
Phillip Chester, Town Planner, Lebanon, CT
Public Input: Guest speaker Phil Chester, (Lebanon town planner, formerly Suffield town planner) – Creating a Local Farmland Preservation Program.
Mr. Chester provided some background on his experiences in both Suffield and Lebanon to preserve open space.
He worked closely with the Department of agriculture to develop a plan. He defined what Open Space is: land permanently preserved through deed or restrictions, in its’ natural state.
He also reviewed the build out analysis that was performed in Suffield. Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall noted that Enfield has not done an analysis but hopes that it will be done as part of the upcoming update of the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD).
Mr. Chester noted that there is a $50,000 viability grant available to municipalities every November. The funds can be used for such things as a build-out analysis, mailings pertaining to PA 490, farm appraisals for farm preservation, farmers’ market expenses, or surveys.
He also suggested that the Town send a letter to local farmers regarding the Town’s willingness to work with farmers and help preserve their land.
Commissioner George noted that numerous farms in town are less than 20 acres and the Commission would like to assist these farmers as well.
Mr. Chester suggested that the Town consider giving a farm building tax exemption.
He also recommended contacting the CT Farmland Trust for assistance in helping small farms.
He also strongly recommended that the Conservation Commission be given a voice in the POCD and open space applications submitted as part of new development.
Members discussed the possibility of using part of the viability grant towards updating the Open Space and Farmland Preservation Report that was created several years ago.
Mr. Chester also suggested a bond referendum for farm preservation.
Mr. Chester discussed open space regulations for various towns where open space land given as part of a subdivision must include a certain percentage of “useable” land, not just land such as wetlands or escarpment slopes.
He also suggested that the Town consider an agricultural buffer for subdivisions that are located next to active farms.
Commissioners noted that most farmland in Enfield is located in the Industrial zone.
Mr. Bosco, Town Council member, noted that the Town seems to be against farmers. The Town needs to allow new farms to be developed as well.
Mr. Alsbaugh noted that education is very important in having the Town government and residents work together to preserve farmland.
Mr. Chester also reminded the Commission that the Farm Preservation Program is designed to assist in purchasing the development rights of farms. The program provides 75% of the cost and the remainder can be funded through the town’s “fee-in-lieu of open space” fund.
The American Farmland Trust is producing a book and CD that will be published shortly and provided to municipalities.
He also noted that the Department of Agriculture will not provide funding for farms located within “growth centers”, which in Enfield’s case, is the Industrial zone. He suggested that members check on the Department of Agriculture’s website for their Plan of Development.
Mr. Chester ended his presentation at 8:20 p.m.
Commissioners discussed the need to update the Farmland Preservation Report. It was noted that it would be interesting to see how much farmland has been lost to development since the original document was created in 1999. This would be an important tool to show the Town Council the speed at which farmland is being lost and the importance of preserving the remaining farmland.
A motion was made by Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall and seconded by Commissioner George to create a subcommittee to work on the update of the Farmland Preservation Program. Vote was 6-0-0.
Commissioners McGuire, Kneiss, George, Szewczak and Chairman Dynia volunteered to be on the subcommittee.
A motion was made by Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall and seconded by Commissioner LaPlante to approve the minutes of the meeting of May 13, 2008 with the following amendments: page 1, remove Commissioner Szewczak from “Members Present” and place with “Members Absent”; page 3, under “Staff Liaison Report”, 2nd paragraph, 1st sentence, correct “Voss” to “Vose”. Vote was 3-0-3(Dynia, McGuire, Szewczak abstained).
Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall again urged fellow commissioners to read the Winter, 2008 issue of “The Habitat”, especially the article referring to Hebron’s coordinated approach to preserving natural resources.
Commissioner George noted the difficulty in performing a natural resource inventory and will discuss it with the commission at a later date.
Commissioner Kneiss left the meeting for the evening at 8:32 p.m.
Discussions
· Open Space & Farmland Preservation Report / Updates from staff / Review of draft Report Adoption Request letter to Town Council
No discussion.
· Discussion on potential community garden at Shaker Rd. & Elm St.
Commissioner George asked if a form could be included with the Town’s tax bills to see what interest there is by residents for garden plots. She also noted the need for a fence at the site.
Commissioners discussed the minutes of the Town Council’s meeting of May 19, 2008. It was noted that it contained some misinformation regarding the Conservation Commission’s recommended use of the land.
Members noted that this site is also being sought by the soccer teams for use as playing fields.
After much discussion, a motion was made by Commissioner George and seconded by Commissioner LaPlante to send a cover letter to the Town Manager along with the original letter, clarifying any misconceptions, and stating the appropriateness for a community garden at this site, along with the possibility of receiving a grant for repair/restoration of the barn located on site. Vote was 6-0-0.
Executive Session: Appraisal process status:
A motion was made by Commissioner George and seconded by Commissioner LaPlante to enter Executive Session to discuss the appraisal process status at 8:48 p.m. Vote was 6-0-0.
Executive session ended at 9:04 p.m. No votes were taken and no decisions were made.
Unfinished Business:
Mr. Alsbaugh was requested to find out from Mr. Giner if GIS can be added as a layer on the Town’s website.
Mr. Alsbaugh will send a letter to the Town Manager regarding interest in the Grange as a group and in the Grange building.
The Commissioners thanked Commissioner George for her efforts in coordinating the tree planting at the library. Mary Lou Strom’s family sent a thank you note to the commission for the Kwansan Cherry tree that was planted in her name.
Commissioner LaPlante suggested that future trees be planted in the fall and dedicated the following spring. This might eliminate the need for some of the necessary watering and ensure that the tree is healthy for the dedication.
Real Estate Matters:
A motion was made by Commissioner George and seconded by Commissioner LaPlante to authorize Mr. Alsbaugh to proceed with a request for a second appraisal for the purchase of property for open space, to comply with the grant application requirements. Vote was 6-0-0.
Other:
Mr. Alsbaugh highly recommended that commissioners attend an upcoming training program for commissioners, to be held on June 23, 2008.
Commissioner LaPlante recommended that Conservation Commission members join one or more of the POCD committees.
Members briefly discussed the Connecticut Water Diversion Permit application that was recently received.
A motion was made by Commissioner Szewczak and seconded by Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall to table discussion on this until the next meeting. Vote was 6-0-0.
A motion was made by Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall and seconded by Commissioner Szewczak to table discussion on the Organizational Meeting. Vote was 6-0-0.
A letter, dated 06-03-08 from the Commission to the Town Manager regarding Commissioner George’s interest in being appointed as an alternate member to the CT River Assembly was signed by Chairman Dynia.
A letter, dated 06-03-08 from the Commission to the Town Manager regarding the commission’s recommendation that the Town Council reappoint Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall to the commission was signed by Chairman Dynia.
Adjournment:
A motion was made by Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall and seconded by Commissioner LaPlante to adjourn the meeting at 9:43 p.m. Vote was 6-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
_______________________________
Gretchen Pfeifer-Hall, Secretary