ENFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION

September 11, 2007

Town Hall – Enfield Room

820 Enfield Street

Enfield, CT 06082

CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Mike Dynia called the meeting to order at 7:11 P.M. in the Enfield Room.

ROLL CALL: Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall performed the roll call. The following commissioners were in attendance:

Michael Dynia                                                  Natalie George

Gretchen Pfeifer-Hall                                        Everett Gamble Alternate                                 

Richard Szewczak

Kathleen Vose, Alternate

Gail Miller, Staff Liaison                                               

Absent:  Timothy McGuire, Joanne Kneiss, Alternate

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PUBLIC INPUT: Chairman Dynia noted that there were no persons present to give public input.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  Chairman Dynia asked for comments regarding the minutes of June 12, 2007. Motion to approve the minutes  made by Comm. Gamble seconded by Comm. George and So Voted.

CORRESPONDENCE:  Staff liaison presented the information on the seminar entitled Storm water in the City.  Comm. George and Comm. Pfeifer-Hall will attend.

Comm. Pfeifer-Hall suggested hosting a forum for local farmers and asking them how the ECC can help them.  Comm. Gamble agreed and said it would be an opportunity to educate the Town and the citizens and local leaders. Comm. McGuire can make this part of the letter he plans to draft for farmers.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion made by Comm. Pfeifer-Hall and seconded by Comm. Szewczyk to go into Executive Session and So Moved.  No decisions were made and no votes were taken.

OPEN SPACE: No report

FARMLAND PRESERVATION: Comm. Pfeifer-Hall began the discussion about the proposed truck stops being planed by the State in the Enfield area.  One of them involves the Trinity Farms land.  The owner was not notified of these plans.  The north bound rest stop would be on the land behind Kohl’s plaza.  Comm. Pfeifer-Hall will forward the web site to the Commissioners.

AQUIFER PROTECTION:  No Report

ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROTECTION: Commissioners reviewed the Open space map of the Scantic noting areas with potential impact to archaeological interest that are being considered for development.

SPECIAL PROJECTS:  No report

REAL ESTATE:  Commissioners reviewed the plans for the Village at Powder Hill.  The terraced escarpment soils are not protected and will likely wash away.  There are questions on the sanitary lines.  There appear to be no plans for stabilizing the embankment or a planting plan.  There are also additional questions about the catch basins.  Comm. George will review the plans and draft a letter for the Commission’s review.  After discussion, by consensus, the ECC agreed not to support the zone change and a letter of recommendation will be sent to the PZC.

The request for a zone change from R-44 to R-33 on the land off Simon Road was reviewed.  About half the acreage is impacted by escarpment soils and wetlands. The last time a zone change was sought from R-88 to R-44 the ECC was against the plan.  Staff liaison will research a prior letter that was send to the Planning Board.

STAFF LIAISON: Discussed prior

Liaison Report- Northern CT Land Trust:  Comm. Dynia will speak to the Land Trust about land that may be of interest to the NCLT.

Liaison Report - Scantic River Watershed Association – The Source to Sea Clean up will be held on September 29.  October 14 is the Annual meeting of SRWA to be held at the Somers Senior Center at 6:00 pm.  The Wadeable Steams project will take place on October 27, 2007.

NEW BUSINESS: Review of the Plan of Conservation and Development.  Tabled until another meeting.. 

Kristen Martin, a professor at ACC has requested that a member of the Conservation Commission come and speak to her class.

NEXT MEETING DATE:  Chairman Dynia noted the next meeting date will be on October 9, 2007.

ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Comm. Gamble to adjourn the meeting at 9:17, seconded by Comm. George and So Voted.

Respectfully submitted:

Gretchen Pfeifer-Hall

Secretary