Open Space Committee Regular Meeting February 4, 2015

OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE – SUBJECT TO APPROVAL
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES – FEBRUARY 4, 2015

1. CALL TO ORDER
First Selectman Lisa Heavner called the Regular Meeting of the Open Space Committee to order at 4:33 p.m. on Wednesday, February 4, 2015. The meeting was held in the Board of Education Conference Room of the Simsbury Town Offices located at 933 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT. The following committee members were also in attendance: Ferg Jansen, and Don Rieger. Staff included Hiram Peck, Director of Planning & Community Development; Gerard Toner, Director of Culture, Parks and Recreation and Jeff Shea, Town Engineer.

2. PUBLIC AUDIENCE
John Schaefer, when discussing agenda item number 8, asked if it was possible for town to sell a property with development restrictions, such as allowing only farming.

3. REVIEW/ADOPT MINUTES OF JANUARY 7, 2015
There were no changes.

4. OPEN SPACE INVENTORY UPDATE
Mr. Rieger said that since the last meeting he did some more work on the open space inventory list he created. He reconciled the list with Mr. Toner’s list, and with the recently-launched GIS database, adding additional information. Ms. Heavner thanked Mr. Rieger for his considerable effort in creating the list.

5. 1 OLD BRIDGE ROAD UPDATE
Mr. Shea reported that an open house was held at the location and about 15-20 people toured the home. Next steps were discussed. A meeting, slated for the end of March, would be held, tentatively, in the Simsbury Public Library. At that proposed meeting, information from Mr. Peck, Mr. Toner and Mr. Shea would be presented. Interested parties would be involved, such as people from the Flower Bridge organization, beautification committee, tourism and conservation, etc. Ms. Heavner asked open space members to take the lead on this in terms of the process, and stressed the importance of including the public, interested parties and various stakeholders.

After that meeting, next steps may include working with a landscape architect with ideas that come out of the meeting. Issues to be determined include the condition of the building, cost of maintenance, and any legal constraints, as the building is in a floodplain.

Mr. Peck said taking the whole area into consideration, including the meadows, should be done. Mr. Shea said adjoining properties should be considered as well.

6. MILONE & MACBROOM FOR ETHEL WALKER PARCEL UPDATE
Mr. Shea passed out the draft report, which is not complete, but is the most current iteration. He said staff is reviewing it. They are aware that there are still items missing such as recommendation for improvements, an inventory, and cost estimates for improvements. He said they will meet internally and with the consultant. Mr. Shea described the report as a good starting point. Once completed there will be a presentation for various groups such as parks and recreation, open space and conservation.

7. DISCUSSION OF INTERNSHIP POSSIBILITIES
Mr. Toner said an internship job description for a land use person, with forestry related experience, with the job of updating the open space inventory and evaluating various parcels, was put out.

A Trinity student responded and seems to be a good fit. He has GIS experience as well. Mr. Toner said there were some details to nail down before moving forward.

A second internship is also in the works. Mr. Toner is exploring establishing a long-term relationship with the Yale School of Forestry as his department is getting more involved in forest management. He said the idea would be for the internship to work in conjunction with the town’s Consulting Forester, Eric Hansen.

8. OPEN SPACE STEWARDSHIP POLICY
Committee members and staff discussed developing a policy for open space stewardship. The idea grows, in part, from the possibility of selling some open space land. For example, a policy would specify what criteria is used to evaluate properties for possible sale; and how any proceeds were utilized, such as buying more desirable parcels or to help maintain current open space.

Mr. Peck expressed interest in coordinating policy writing. Other input would include the town attorney, best practices from other towns, and the public. The plan is to get a policy in place by November 2016.

A complete inventory is the first step in developing a policy, which is underway.

Mr. Peck said it is possible to sell a parcel with a conservation easement, but that is something that could be covered in the policy development.

Ms. Heavner said the basis for a policy is to have well-thought-out stewardship for the town’s open space. She added that the policy’s development should include comments from the Simsbury Land Trust, the conservation commission, parks and recreation, and the public, among others.

9. OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.

10. ADJOURN
Mr. Rieger made a motion to adjourn at 5:08 p.m. and Mr. Jansen seconded, and the committee voted to adjourn.

Respectfully submitted,
Stephanie Riefe