ENFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2009
A Regular Meeting of the Enfield Conservation Commission was called to order by Chairman LaPlante in the Thompsonville Room of the Enfield Town Hall, 820 Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut on Tuesday, October 13, 2009. The meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m.
ROLL-CALL – Present were Commissioners Michael Dynia, Natalie George, Joanne Kneiss, Karen LaPlante, Gretchen Pfeifer-Hall, Richard Szewczak and Kathleen Vose. Commissioner Timothy McGuire entered at 7:20 p.m. Also present was Roger Alsbaugh, Assistant Planner
PUBLIC INPUT
There were no public comments
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner George, seconded by Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall to accept the minutes subject to correction of typographical errors. The vote was 6-0-1, with Commissioner Kneiss abstaining.
CORRESPONDENCE
Chairman LaPlante shared the following correspondence:
· DEP correspondence received by the Planning Office on September 16, 2009 – Notice of tentative determination and attempt to waive public hearing for diversion of water for Hazardville Water.
Chairman LaPlante stated pursuant to Section 22A-371 of the Connecticut General Statutes, the DEP has found that the application is complete and has determined that the proposed diversion is necessary, will not significantly effect long-range water resources management, and will not impair proper management and use of the water resources of the state.
Chairman LaPlante stated her belief this is just a renewal. Commissioner George agreed, noting this is a renewal of exactly what they’ve been doing for the last ten years with updated data on the quality of the water.
· Letter dated September 15, 2009:
“Dear Roger and Karen: Due to family responsibilities, I am unable to continue as recording secretary for the ECC. While I would like this to become effective immediately, I will do my best to be available for the regular ECC meeting of October 13th if necessary. I apologize for having to resign. I have enjoyed working with your commission. Sincerely, Susan
It was agreed to forward an expression of appreciation to Susan.
· “The Habitat” dated the summer of 2009
Chairman LaPlante stated her hope some Commissioners will be able to attend the Annual Conference of the Connecticut Association of Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commission, which is scheduled for Saturday, November 14, 2009. She noted Patrick Comins will be the keynote speaker, and he will speak about threatened bird habitats.
Chairman LaPlante requested interested members notify Mr. Alsbaugh if they wish to attend, and then it can be coordinated through e-mails.
· Letter of appreciation from Roger Alsbaugh to Amy Patterson for her attendance at the September 8, 2009 Conservation Commission meeting.
· October 1, 2009 cover letter for Northeast Utilities grant application for the Environmental Community Grant Program
The purpose of this grant would be for the installation of a message center and ground cover at the Donald Barnes Boat Launch on South River Street at an estimated cost of under $1,000.
Chairman LaPlante commended Enfield High School students for the nice job they did painting the water treatment building on South River Street. Commissioner Kneiss stated the students are looking forward to completing that job.
· Update from Amy Paterson re: CT Water Company Property
Chairman LaPlante stated it appears CT Water isn’t interested in opening their property to the public on an unrestricted basis in the Scantic River Greenway. It was agreed they could look into a trail easement. Any discussions would focus on the positions of the town and the Water Company that access should be in a controlled manner to protect all resources within the Water Company property and the historic boundaries of the Hazard Powder Company as they relate to the development of the State park along the Scantic River.
Chairman LaPlante stated there was an article in the Springfield newspaper regarding a barn seminar being held at Friends of Hilltop in Suffield on Saturday, October 17, 2009. She noted this presentation will be made by George Senerchia of Northford Timber Framers. Discussion followed about researching documentation of past barns of Enfield. Commissioner McGuire noted the Collins Farm may have some photographs of old Enfield barns.
Tree Inventory Basics
Commissioner Kneiss presented some items, which were distributed at the recent Family Day on the Town Green. She noted these items encourage recycling. She stated Enfield is now doing single-stream recycling.
Commissioner Kneiss stated there is a federal grant that helps to spread awareness of the destructive Asian Longhorn Beetle, which poses a threat to hardwood trees such as maples. She noted its suggested towns perform a tree inventory and tree survey. She stated before moving forward, they would need to know they had the volunteers to carry out this project. She noted Chris Donnelly is the State of Connecticut Urban Forester, and he offered to come and educate the Commission about how to do an inventory. She stated her belief the Conservation Commission should initiate this as a goal.
Mr. Alsbaugh stated they need to make sure they’re not being redundant. He noted trees are supposed to be innumerated as assets, and they should ask the Director of Finance where the Town stands in that regard. He pointed out this should be coordinated with the Director of Finance, Director of Public Works (Town Tree Warden), Town Manager and the Town Council.
Chairman LaPlante questioned whether state highway trees are a state or town asset, and Mr. Alsbaugh responded they’d need some guidelines.
Mr. Alsbaugh questioned whether the Asian Longhorn Beetle awareness program is meant to encourage the concept of a tree inventory, and Ms. Kneiss stated that’s how the idea of a tree inventory came about.
It was suggested they learn whether volunteers might come from groups such as the senior center, Asnuntuck Community College, high school biology classes, etc.
Commissioner George will e-mail Mr. Alsbaugh the name and e-mail address of an individual who can provide more information concerning the Asian Longhorn Beetle.
Rose Hiskes
Ct Agricultural Experiment Station
123 Huntington Street
New Haven CT 06511
203 974-8483
E-mail: Rose.Hiskes@po.state.ct.us
Commissioner Dynia suggested contacting other towns that have done tree inventories, i.e., Wolcott.
Chairman LaPlante stated they should know what the town needs if they’re looking at trees as assets. Mr. Alsbaugh noted he will check with Tom McGee. Commissioner Kneiss pointed out the Director of Public Works, Piya Hawkes, has been identified as the tree warden.
Springfield, Missouri’s Permanent Farmers’ Market Facility
Commissioner Kneiss shared a brochure about a farmers’ market located in Springfield, Missouri. She noted this particular farmers’ market consists of a simple-built, three-season building, and the surrounding grounds contain passive recreation, a playground, and disk golf. She suggested such a facility might be a good place to use solar panels and wind turbines.
Commissioner George noted if such a facility existed in Enfield, perhaps they could even provide much needed space for meetings.
Chairman LaPlante stated her belief they should do more research and move this idea forward so that it can be presented to the Town Council.
Enfield Plan of Conservation & Development/Steering Committee – Open Space on CT River at Thompsonville – Impacts of proposed bus station on current & past POCD’s & the Thompsonville Plan as reflected in the Enfield Zoning Ordinances
It was agreed it should be made known that the Future Land Use map submitted is inaccurate regarding proposed agricultural use designation and actual and proposed open space. It was also agreed the agricultural aspect of this map should be soil-based. Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall cited one inaccuracy whereby the map shows the entire prison property as industrial. However, at least 200 acres of that has already been preserved in perpetuity for grassland and a bird habitat.
As concerns the proposed multi-model transportation station in Thompsonville, Commissioner George stated she sees significant problems, and it’s not just land use, but also recommendations for development.
Chairman LaPlante stated she has a problem with high-rises along the river. She went on to note she likes the idea of the ecological education center. She questioned its location on Enfield Street (CT Water Co property at 350 Enfield St.), and Mr. Alsbaugh stated the old Control Module building was noted by the consultants as a good adjunct facility for the proposed center’s location as it would provide additional space for associated activities as well as considerable parking. He noted there is a concern with the present condition of the Control Module building.
Commissioner Kneiss stated she attended the meeting at JFK, and many people felt agricultural and recreational land are important. She noted it doesn’t appear those items were given priority, although these things are high priority to the public.
Commissioner Kneiss stated every development recommendation has associated costs. However, those multiple costs aren’t provided. She noted home inspections don’t show a cost associated with that process. She stated her belief that in order for this document to be more accurate, they should have a cost benefit analysis done on all of the items to learn whether it’s prudent and feasible to do some of those things.
Commissioner Kneiss stated if they’re talking about adding 1,200 to 1,500 more residential units, it should be known what the effects of that expansion is going to cost the taxpayers of Enfield as concerns service, sewers, education, police and fire. Commissioner George added it makes a difference where vacant land is located, i.e., is there access to sewers or water lines.
Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall noted the pressure to re-zone R88 to R44 in areas that don’t have sewers. She noted R88 is too expensive for developers to develop.
Commissioner Vose stated her impression Enfield already has a lot of subsidized housing compared to surrounding towns.
Discussion followed about the development of an intermodal transit center in Thompsonville.
Commissioner George stated there is river floodplain land adjacent to the proposed bus station and residential development, and they’re talking about putting in parking lots and large residential structures on land proposed for conservation and recreation by the Connecticut River in the previous two Plans of Conservation & Development. She also pointed out there used to be an old coal-burning power plant on the high land indicating potential brown fields.
Chairman LaPlante questioned whether it’s official that brownfields exist in this area. Ms. Pfeifer-Hall responded it’s fairly certain there are brownfields in this area.
Commissioner George stated her draft letter expresses in part the Conservation Commission’s concerns in regard to the proposed parking lot size and location.
Mr. Alsbaugh noted the charge of the Revitalization Committee to create action plans, based on the priorities in the POCD and the Thompsonville Revitalization Plan. He referred to the ERSC’s latest action plan and the Community Development Department’s oversight and creation of the new transportation center plan, noting changes in policy that contradict POCD and the Thompsonville Revitalization Plan’s recommendations on development, open space acquisition, and Ct River access for recreation. It was noted by the commission that these new development plans along the CT River in Thompsonville have not gone out to all the agencies that should have been involved, in particular the ECC. Of particular note is the unsolicited river front development plan submitted by Northland included in the transportation center plan. It shows new high-rise housing on the properties mapped in the 1992 TRP and 1999 POCD as priority acquisition for open space / recreation development.
Commissioner George stated her belief this plan violates everything in the book. The commission questioned who authorized these changes in policy.
Mr. Alsbaugh stated they need to focus on the core ECC issues, which are the open space and environmental issues. He noted this area was and always has been meant to be open recreation space. He went on to note another isolated enclave of housing on the river in Thompsonville, much as Bigelow is isolated from the village center, will not revitalize that area. Commissioner Kneiss stated her belief the Conservation Commission can be more direct in what they’re saying. She questioned whether neighboring towns have been asked about the implications of developing property along the Connecticut River.
Commissioner Kneiss referred to Commissioner George’s draft letter and suggested they look at the plan and include the paragraph that states what the strategy is for the key parcels in the Connecticut River corridor, and tell them the Conservation Commission feels this is very important.
Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall stated in the 1987 Plan of Conservation & Development, Goal #7 states the Connecticut River shoreline, including King’s Island, the smaller island, and the area west of the railroad right-of-way and north of Waterworks Creek were considered high priority permanent preservation areas of open space to provide buffers between development for the unimpeded function of natural processes and to provide recreation.
Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall stated the open space and recreation plan within the 1998 Plan of Conservation & Development incorporates the Levitz property on North River Street, as well as the Power Company and Gas Company properties north of Freshwater Brook.
Commissioner Kneiss stated the older Plans of Conservation and Development continually talked about the preservation of these parcels and the Connecticut River in general and natural resources and the current plan is contrary to this idea.
Mr. Alsbaugh stated the pertinent links are the mapping of proposed open space from the 1999 and 1987 POCD’s, and the actual development proposals implemented through the zoning ordinances of the components of The Thompsonville Revitalization Plan. He noted the recommended development areas in that plan were incorporated into the zoning regulations as core areas, and there’s nothing in any document or plan that indicates that the property along the river was to be intended for anything else other than the eventual acquisition for open space and recreation and a rail station at the casket hardware company building.
Chairman LaPlante stated she does not have a problem with buses and taxis picking up people, however, she does not want to see many buses sitting with their engines idling.
Chairman LaPlante concluded this discussion stating the Commission will put more work into this draft letter, and Commissioner George noted she will see that the draft is e-mailed to everyone.
Connecticut River Clean Up
Chairman LaPlante questioned how much debris was picked up in the recent Connecticut River Clean-Up, and Commissioner Dynia stated they had 35 volunteers, and they picked up 2.37 tons of trash. Chairman LaPlante suggested perhaps Public Works could be informed about problem areas where debris accumulates.
Commissioner McGuire stated his belief illegal dumping seems to be increasing throughout town, and this seems to tie in with the implementation of the charge-by-weight system at the transfer station. Chairman LaPlante stated perhaps it should be recommended the transfer station not turn people away because in some cases, those people will dump the material illegally.
Commissioner Dynia stated there has been some talk about installing cameras in areas where illegal dumpings have been occurring.
The Commission then reviewed the proposed Plan of Conservation & Development. The following represents questions raised, comments made and recommended changes agreed upon for submission to the consultant:
· Omit the Future Land Use Map in its current form; having no map at all at this time is preferable to the current proposal. A better considered alternative can be made part of the plan at a later date if necessary.
· Page 19, Policy 1.8 – Mr. Alsbaugh explained this was included as a goal and to work towards bringing Planning & Zoning back up to adequate staffing levels.
· Page 18 – clarification of streamlining permit process section. It was agreed there needed to be more clarification of the wording in this section, i.e., strike the reference to boards, commissions, or committees and just refer to the process.
· Page 20 – change wording from “consolidate” efforts to “coordinate” efforts.
· Page 25, Policy 4.1 – It was agreed this needs to be omitted. Mr. Alsbaugh stated it can be pointed out that this recommended development policy is completely incompatible with other sections of the Proposed Plan of Conservation and Development, which is evident by the placement of these items by the consultants. He noted by pointing this out, the Conservation Commission lends support to knock down high-rises and developments in those areas.
· Page 24, Policy 3.5 – add recommendation “the intermodal bus component of the concept be moved east of Route 91.”
· Page 24 – Commissioner Kneiss suggested the following wording: “Explore alternative energy production that preserves the natural landscape”, and omit “Revise zoning to incorporate new land use regulations.”
· Page 25 – Policy 4.2 – Add “continue removal of Springborn dam on Scantic River to promote recreation and a healthy fish population.”
· Page 25, Policy 4.1 – “Proactively work with local officials and developers to insure that only low risk development, as defined by EPA, occurs within the aquifer protection area.”
· Page 25 – Omit “revise zoning to incorporate new building height requirements.”
· Page 25 – at top of the page: “create the conservation or no development zone along the Scantic and Connecticut Rivers that restricts development ‘within’ 200 feet…”
· Page 29 – “Further develop the Farmers’ Market concept in other locations and still have the smaller Farmers’ Market in Thompsonville”.
· Page 28 – add an action – “Implement actions recommended in the Open Space and Farmland Preservation Plan in Enfield.”
· Page 28 – add “To promote and continue preservation of prime farmland soils.”
· Page 30 – the comment concerning the tax structure should be omitted
· Policy 6.3 – the fire department location comment should be omitted.
Commissioner Dynia stated the annual meeting of the Scantic River Watershed Association will be held at the Enfield Senior Center on Monday, October 29th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Kneiss to go into Executive Session to discuss Real Estate Matters. The vote was 8-0-0.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Executive Session of the Enfield Conservation Commission was called to order by Chairman LaPlante at 10:45 p.m.
ROLL-CALL - Present were Commissioners Michael Dynia, Natalie George, Joanne Kneiss, Karen LaPlante, Timothy McGuire, Gretchen Pfeifer-Hall, Richard Szewczak and Kathleen Vose. Also present was Roger Alsbaugh, Assistant Planner.
Real Estate Matters were discussed with no action or votes being taken.
Chairman LaPlante adjourned the Executive session at 10:46 p.m. She reconvened the Regular Meeting at 10:47 p.m. and stated during Executive Session, Real Estate Matters were discussed with no action or votes being taken.
Commissioner George made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Dynia that the North River Street parcel should be considered for open space acquisition. The vote was 8-0-0.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Pfeifer-Hall made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Szewczak to adjourn the Regular Meeting. The vote was 8-0-0, and the meeting stood adjourned at 10:48 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
________________________________
Gretchen Pfeifer-Hall, Secretary
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