CONNECTICUT RIVER GATEWAY COMMISSION

 

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

 

October 25, 2007

 

Present/Absent:    CHESTER                  Margaret Wilson, Martha Wallace

                               DEEP RIVER             Amy Petrone, Nancy Fischbach

                               EAST HADDAM         Logan Clarke, Robert Boulware

                               ESSEX                       Fred Vollono, Ed Marlowe

                               FENWICK                  Chuck Chadwick

                               HADDAM                   Scott Thompson, Susan Bement

                               LYME                         Kevin Mazer, J. Melvin Woody

                               OLD LYME                 Rudi Besier, Ted Crosby

                               OLD SAYBROOK      Madge Fish, David LeMay

                               CRERPA                    Steve Williams 

                               MIDSTATE RPA        Raul De Brigard, Stasia DeMichele

                               DEP                            David Blatt

                               STAFF                        Torrance Downes, Dorothy Papp,

                               TIDEWATER              Judy Preston

 

Call to Order

            Vice-Chairman Melvin Woody called the regular meeting of the Gateway Commission to order at 7:30 pm in the CRERPA meeting room. 

 

Approval of Minutes

Nancy Fischbach moved to approve the minutes of September 27, 2007. Stasia DeMichele seconded. All were in favor. 

  

Staff Report

Torrance Downes reported on receipt of the East Haddam Plan of Conservation and Development Draft.  He noted that there was little mention of the Gateway Commission or mission except statutory citations, but that the Eight Mile River effort was highlighted in significant detail.  A draft response suggests the highlighting of the Gateway and Eight Mile River as “sister” efforts, and further that more Gateway language will support East Haddam’s effort to retain its rural character. 

 

Treasurer’s Report

Peggy Wilson reminded the Commission of the $1500 received last year in memoriam to Natalie Williams, past CRERPA board treasurer.  CRERPA has suggested spending the money on a digital camera with GIS capabilities, a purchase that would serve both the Gateway region and CRERPA, as well as appropriately honor the memory of Natalie, a dedicated artist and supporter of river preservation.  Nancy Fishbach made a motion to spend the fund monies on a camera of CRERPA’s choice.  David Blatt seconded.  All were in favor.

            As of September 30, 2007 the year to date increase of Gateway’s total investments with Merrill Lynch was 6.85%.  Although Liz David provided an annual investment fee approximation of $12,000, she stressed that the number was merely a guess and would go down as Gateway’s investments increased.  .  Cited report inaccuracies will be corrected for the December meeting.

Due to a credit to CRERPA found in the audit procedure, the net staffing bill from CRERPA this month is $374.59 and $1120.00 from Tidewater.  Nancy Fischbach moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report and pay the bills.  Susan Bement seconded.  All were in favor.

           

Referrals

Torrance reported receipt of a variance application for the McCane property in Haddam.  This is the same property that was offered for sale to the Gateway Commission, The Nature Conservancy and the DEP for preservation a couple months ago.  TNC reported this week that they will not pursue acquisition of the property and the variance application is to subdivide a major portion of the lot to create a new building lot, ostensibly for private sale.  Torrance presented photos which he took today, but the submitted application materials were vague and incomplete, particularly in their lack of mention of the Gateway’s 100’ setback requirement which includes the 50’ riparian buffer  and which would indicate the extent to which the property in question is nonconforming.  Torrance will write a letter for the public hearing on October 29 requesting more information; that the hearing be kept open; and stating that based on the available information, the Gateway Commission does not support granting a variance.

Torrance also provided pictures from the adjacent Teran property which received a variance without dispute from the Gateway several months ago.  Looking at the pictures, the Commission felt deceived that the applicant’s presentation to the Gateway implied that the project was a restoration of an historic family structure, not the new construction with maintenance of a single wall that is actually being built.  A letter will be sent expressing the Commission’s concern.

 

Tidewater

            Judy Preston gave a PowerPoint presentation of her preliminary overview of the scientific literature on riparian buffers as relates to the grant she is currently working on.

           

Adoption Status of 2004 Standards

            Old Lyme PZC passed the Gateway Standards as part of their overall zoning regulation update this month with one dissenting vote, after the chairman realized that CT Statute mandates that “Gateway Standards shall be adopted promptly” by the member towns.  The public hearing is tentatively set for December 10, 2007.  Gateway Commission members are urged to get support to the hearing

            No new word from Essex. 

 

Status of Gateway Owned Properties

            Torrance talked with Suzanne Barkyoumb of the DEP Land Acquisition regarding transfer of Gateway properties and/or easements.  A draft Commission Resolution and Certificate of Incumbency have been prepared for the Balleck property and forwarded for review to Barkyoumb.  A preliminary list of properties owned in fee or under easement to the Gateway Commission was discussed by Gateway members and is attached to these minutes.

 

Adjournment

There being no further business, Nancy Fischbach moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Dorothy Papp

 

The next meeting of the Gateway Commission is Thursday, December 6, 2007.