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Warner Conservation Commission Minutes of Meeting February 6, 2008
Attending:
Nancy Martin, Chris Connors, Brian Hotz, Russ St. Pierre, and Jim
McLaughlin (recording) Also Ken Milender.
Approval
of Minutes of December 5, 2007
The
minutes of the meeting of December 5, 2007 were approved as submitted.
(Note:
There was no January 2008 meeting.)
Land
Protection
Brian
reported that he has continued conversations with a Kearsarge Mountain
Road property owner and interested family members concerning a
conservation easement. A right of first refusal issue pertaining to
the parcel needs to be addressed. Brian has talked to Ausbon Sargent
Land Protection Trust about their interest in being involved and will
contact Five Rivers Conservation Trust as well. Outlook for obtaining
an easement looks promising.
Courser
- Ausbon Sargent has completed its fund raising effort for the third
phase and have secured LCHIP and Fish & Game LIP grants. They are
working to complete the grant-related documents. Brian suggested
planning a field trip this spring of the Courser properties that are
under easement for the WCC and members of the public.
Other
- Brian said another individual has approached him about a donated
conservation easement on their property. More to come.
Wetlands
Issues
Cunningham
Road property - A wetlands permit for forestry operation was
received for a property on this road.
Wagner
commercial subdivision - Has been postponed until Planning
Board’s March 3 meeting.
Harte
property - Jim reported hearing that the Zoning Board has denied
the two variance requests.
Melvin
Mills - Retaining wall project permit on the Warner River still
under consideration by DES.
Town
Meeting
Brian
will speak to Article 10 on the Town Meeting warrant requesting a
$50,000 appropriation for the Conservation Fund. He will also describe
the Natural Resources Inventory and have some of the NRI maps on
display. All agreed that the presentation should be brief.
Natural
Resources Inventory
All
mapping is complete except for scenic resources. Chris will get the
needed material to the Forest Society. Jim has spoken to the Planning
Board about showing the NRI maps to them in relation to the Master
Plan update. Scheduled to meet with the Board at its February 18 work
session. Dan Sundquist from SPNHF will be there.
Discussion
of the town-wide conservation plan as the next step discussed.
Importance of integrating this with the Master Plan was emphasized.
Chris suggested members review natural resources/conservation related
recommendations in the current Master Plan. Brian offered to prepare a
draft scope for a conservation plan.
Comprehensive
Shoreland Protection Act
Chris
will present information to the Commission on changes to DES’ CSPA
rules after she has attended the training session in April.
Easement
Monitoring
Brian
reported that he has submitted a request to SPNHF’s committee about
assuming monitoring responsibility for the Ries and Contoocook Village
easements, since these large parcels are difficult for Commission
members to monitor. The committee will be meeting in April. The SPNHF
requires a contribution to its endowment fund to support its
monitoring and enforcement expenses. They typically want $10,000 per
easement, but this may be negotiable. Lack of land surveys for these
properties could be an issue. Brian will keep in touch on SPNHF’s
deliberations. Important to advise landowners if we decide to pursue
this course. Discussed the importance of involving land conservation
organizations in easement process, because they have monitoring
capacity and the resources to step in if there is a violation of the
easement agreement.
Other
Business
Newpaper
article - Decided not to submit an article for March.
Planning
Board - Jim summarized the Board’s meeting on Monday.
A
copy of the DES alteration of terrain permit for Warner Aggregates was
received.
Meeting
adjourned at 9:00 P.M.
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