Connecticut River Estuary Regional Planning Agency
Minutes
February 5, 2007
Attendance:
Chester:
Clinton:
Deep River: Bruce Edgerton, Rob Wylie
Essex: Tom Danyliw
Killingworth: Jere Adametz, Pat Smulders
Lyme: Frank Skwarek
Old Lyme: Jane Marsh
Old Saybrook: Dick Tietjen
Westbrook: Bill Neale
Staff: Linda Krause, Torrance Downes, Wini Olson
1. Chairman Bruce Edgerton called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM in the CRERPA Conference Space at 455 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook, CT. 06475.
II. Minutes
Bill Neale moved that the minutes of the January 2007 meeting be approved as circulated. The motion was seconded by Jere Adametz and unanimously approved.
III. Correspondence
Linda reported that she had an Email from Leslie Lewis who is in charge of Greenways for the DEP. Leslie asked if CRERPA would be interested in nominating the Lower Connecticut River for designation as a Greenway. She included a copy of the letter of solicitation for nominations. Gateway liked the idea and nominated the Lower Connecticut River for designation as a Greenway when the Commission met last Thursday night. Linda added that it would be nice to add another designation to the list of awards and designations already enjoyed by the Lower Connecticut River. Tom Danyliw moved that CRERPA nominate the Lower Connecticut River to be a designated Greenway within the State of Connecticut. He asked if the designation would have any effect in the impact of McMansions. Bill Neale seconded the motion and the nomination was unanimously approved.
Linda noted that Gateway has a more responsible role in discouraging the proliferation of McMansions. She recited the history of the Gateway Commission and explained that six of the eight member towns have adopted additional controls to help alleviate the problem. Essex and Old Lyme have not yet adopted the additional tools. Jane Marsh commented that many people like the big houses and consider them a pleasing addition the scene. Jane cited tree cutting as a more complicated problem, stating that there is no record of what was there. No inventory has been taken of the trees in the Gateway Zone. She noted that once a tree is gone, it is gone.
IV. Reports
A. Treasurer
Cash flow is in good condition. Linda noted that Governor Rell has indicated that additional money will be available to implement the Responsible Growth Initiatives. Bill Neale moved that the Treasurer’s Report be approved as presented. The motion was seconded by Jane Marsh and unanimously approved.
B. Transportation
There was no transportation report.
C. Staff
1. Linda reported that Pat Anthony has had a difficult time recently. While she was assisting her husband with medical appointments, her mother passed away.
2. Tor is serving as Temporary ZEO for the Town of Westbrook while they search for a new employee.
3. Chester Plan of Conservation and Development
Linda circulated a Chester Resource Map Book that Margot Burns has prepared as part of the assistance that CRERPA is providing to the Chester Commission as it prepares an updated Plan of Conservation and Development. She reported that 60 to 80 people participated in a
planning exercise at the Chester Meeting House on Saturday morning.
Jean Davies video taped the session.
4. Riparian Buffer Project
Linda distributed copies of “Protecting Water Quality with Vegetated Buffers in the Connecticut River Estuary” that was funded by a grant from the EPA. Margot Burns and Judy Preston have prepared an
excellent illustrated lecture on the subject.
5. Old Lyme
Linda is helping the Town of Old Lyme as it reconsiders road standards and attempts to reconcile the sub-division regulations with the Road ordinance.
D . Referrals
Torrance distributed Summary sheets for four referrals.
Durham and Salem are both amending regulations. Durham is adding hours of construction and operation to certain sections. Salem Planning and Zoning Commission are making several changes adding a conceptual plan to the Senior Housing component and will allow for more narrow internal streets. Salem is also adding “Crematory” and “household pets” to the list of definitions. None of the changes seem to threaten neighboring towns.
Both
Old Lyme and Essex are considering subdivisions that abut neighboring
Towns. A proposed 17 lot Enok Pederson subdivision in Old Lyme feeds
onto Burr Rd which serves as the town line between Lyme and Old Lyme.
The drainage apparently flows into Old Lyme. Tom Danyliw questioned the
fragmentation of the Open Space. Fragmented wetland areas are
being accepted to satisfy the Open space requirement. Traffic will flow
through Lyme for a few hundred feet to reach Rt. 156. An abandoned town
Road that formerly connected Burr Road and Saunders Hollow Rd. abuts the
West side of the Pederson property. It was agreed that Old Lyme apparently
would prefer not to reestablish that road.
In Essex a proposal to split a 59 acre parcel on Bokum Road shows an
access road on the portion that would not abut Old Saybrook. There is no
Indication of how the resulting parcel will be used. The access to Bokum
Road at that point is a severe slope. It was agreed that there is not enough
Information to determine how the subdivision might affect Old Saybrook. Jane Marsh moved that the staff report of no inter-municipal concern be approved for the regulation changes in Durham and Salem. The motion was Seconded by Tom Danyliw and unanimously approved.
Frank Skwarek moved that the Old Lyme Planning Commission be made
aware of CRERPA concern for potential traffic patterns, the fragmentation
of open space, which are mostly wetlands, and the status of the adjacent
abandoned town road. The motion was seconded by Ttom Danyliw and
unanimously approved.
Jane Marsh moved that there is insufficient information to comment of
drainage or traffic concerns for lot 2 of the proposed Essex subdivision.
The motion was seconded by Pat Smulders and unanimously approved.
E. MPO
Bruce Edgerton reported that the MPO approved a STIP for filling roadway cracks.
Brad Beecher reported that the ads on the ETD busses are selling well. Kasey Faraci will obtain a speaker to give an update on plans for I-95.
III. Old Business
A. Regional Plan of Conservation and Development
Linda distributed a collection of magazines and asked the members to consider the outline in the previous handout as items in a magazine format.
Things are changing rapidly, from the price of oil, to the internet, to the migration of particular age groups. CRERPA is updating its Regional Plan of Conservation and Development.. Linda would like to use a magazine format that might encourage more people to read what is produced. Tom Danyliw suggested that we use a lot of pictures. Jane Marsh suggested that the plan be published in several installments, allowing public comment as Letters to the Editor. Jane asked about the printing budget. She suggested that a slick paper cover would attract more attention. Tom asked about acquiring the services of a university marketing student. Bill Neale suggested sending out a teaser in hard copy with multiple references to the CRERPA Web site that contains the prolific collection of pictures and maps. Jane commented that there are a lot of interesting topics but “the skeleton isn’t there”. Linda explained that the necessary components of a plan would be incorporated as Feature Stories. Dick Tietjen and Pat Smulders both expressed concerned about the Broadwater terminal in Long Island Sound. It was agreed that all articles must look to the future.
B. Killingworth Plan of Development
Jere Adametz asked about the progress of the Killingworth Plan of Development. Tor explained that at the request of Tom Lentz, Judy Brown had consulted with Pat Anthony how best to coordinate their efforts on mailing the initial questionnaire to Killingworth residents.
Rob Wylie moved that the meeting be adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Neale, Secretary