Open Space Committee Special Meeting September 17, 2014-DRAFT

OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES – September 17, 2014

CALL TO ORDER
Ms. Glassman called the Regular Meeting of the Open Space Committee to order at 4:40 PM on Wednesday, September 17, 2014. The meeting was held in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices located at 933 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT. In attendance was Mary Glassman, First Selectman as well as the following committee members: Ferg Jansen and Helen Peterson. Members Don Rieger and Robert Pomeroy were absent. Staff included Hiram Peck, Planning and Development Director and Gerry Toner, Culture, Parks and Recreation Director.

PUBLIC AUDIENCE
There was no public audience.

REVIEW/ADOPT MINUTES OF APRIL 2, 2014
Mrs. Peterson moved approval of the minutes, Mrs. Glassman seconded. The minutes were approved with Mr. Jansen abstaining.

REVIEW/ADOPT MINUTES OF JUNE 4, 2014
Mrs. Peterson moved approval of the minutes, Mrs. Glassman seconded. The minutes were approved with Mr. Jansen abstaining.

OPEN SPACE DONATION FROM REGAN DEVELOPMENT
Hiram Peck, Planning and Development Director, reviewed the request from Regan Development to donate .36 acres of the Simsbury Specialty Housing, LLC, purchased Lot C in the Dorset Crossing development project. The company is constructing a 48 unit residential unit designed to provide accessible affordable rental housing for people with disabilities. The committee asked several questions with regard to the request. In response, Mr. Peck said he would check with the Tax Assessor to determine if there would be any loss of revenue from the donation. Mrs. Peterson also asked if Mr. Peck could check to find out what the cost of flood insurance would be for the company so the Town could determine what the value of the savings would be. Mr. Peck said he would also check on the value of the land to be donated. Mr. Toner said he would inspect the property and determine if there were any annual maintenance costs associated with accepting the open space and also the current condition of the property.

Mr. Peck and Mr. Toner said they would have an update at the next Open Space Committee meeting.

DEWEY PROPERTY UPDATE
Mrs. Glassman reviewed the Board of Selectmen’s discussions regarding the possible sale of a portion of the Dewey property to allow residential development with the funds going to support the maintenance or purchase of open space deemed important to the Town. Mrs. Peterson and Mr. Jansen agreed the Town should pursue the possible sale. Mrs. Glassman said she will ask staff to prepare a recommendation for the next meeting.

OPEN SPACE FUND
Mrs. Glassman reviewed the draft Open Space Fund policy that has been referred to the Boards of Selectmen and Finance for consideration. She asked if there were any questions and also stated on the record Mr. Rieger’s email that he was not in favor of using open space funds for public indoor recreation or for athletic fields. Mrs. Peterson said she agreed that the fund is for the purpose of stewardship and suggested annual maintenance costs for recreational purposes should be put into the annual operating budget. Mr. Jansen said it was his understanding that the annual operating budget should include active recreation. Mrs. Peterson made a motion to recommend changes to the Open Space Fund policy with respect to active and passive recreation as follows:
Under section 2 of the proposed draft, add the word "passive" before recreation.
Under section 3, make the following changes:
Passive RECREATION –recreational activities that do not require prepared facilities like sports fields or pavilions and place minimal stress on a site’s resources; as a result they are highly compatible with natural resource protection. Examples include fishing, hunting, camping, swimming, cross country skiing, bicycling, running/jogging, bird watching and picnicking [Note: this definition adapted from the US EPA]

MAPPING OF OPEN SPACE
Mr. Toner said he would update the Open Space inventory list and put it in priority order for the next meeting. Mrs. Peterson said it is important for the Town to start to put restrictions on the land records to protect certain parcels with significant value.

ETHEL WALKER PURCHASE
Mrs. Glassman reported that the Town is working with Ethel Walker to close on the sale of the final phase of the Town’s open space purchase. She indicated that is likely to happen before year end. She also reported that Ethel Walker has informed the Town that they plan to hold a celebration and open house on Oct. 19th with more details to follow.

REQUEST TO CLEAR DARLING WILDLIFE SANCTUARY PROPERTY ON PINNACLE MOUNTAIN
Mrs. Glassman informed the committee that the Town has received a letter from Don Rieger offering to assist the Town with clearing of a Town owned access area to open space on Pinnacle Mountain Road. Mrs. Glassman said she had a conflict since she lives on the street. Mr. Toner said the Town coordinates volunteers who want to clear open space paths and has done that on other parcels. He said he would contact Mr. Rieger.

OTHER BUSINESS

EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. Jansen moved to go into executive session and Mrs. Peterson seconded the motion. The committee voted to go into executive session to discuss item 1 Old Bridge Road Update.

Mr. Jansen moved to come out of executive session and Mrs. Peterson seconded the motion. The committee voted to come out of executive session at 5:30 p.m. Mr. Jansen made a motion to support the Town’s intent to purchase 1 Old Bridge Road. Mrs. Peterson seconded the motion and said it would be an important parcel for the Town to acquire. The motion passed.

ADJOURN
Mr. Jansen moved to adjourn at 5:36 p.m. Mrs. Peterson seconded the motion. The motion passed and the meeting was adjourned at 5:36 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Mary A. Glassman