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Warner Conservation Commission Minutes of Meeting November 3, 2010
Attending: Nancy
Martin, John Dabuliewicz, Russ St. Pierre, Doug Allen, Brian Hotz, Peg
Bastien and Jim McLaughlin (recording).
Minutes
of the Meeting of October 6, 2010 -
The minutes of the meeting of
October 6, 2010 were approved as submitted.
Conservation
Land
Kearsarge
Gore Farm Project -
Brian gave an update on this project,
reporting that the survey had uncovered an issue with one of the
property boundaries along the Sutton Town boundary. Instead of
following the Town line, a separate boundary segment had been surveyed
and blazed, such that there are approximately 6 acres of land in
Sutton that are part of the Bower property. A boundary line agreement
between Bower and Phinney, the Sutton landowner, is currently being
signed. The acreage of the easement is now 413 acres. A revised
appraisal is being carried out in light of the boundary issue and
should be completed late next week. Then the entire project will be
submitted to LCHIP for approval after which it will go to the two
Boards of Selectmen for their approval. Brian expects the project to
be done by the end of November.
Black
Mountain Project -
Brian reported that this project is coming
along in terms of gathering the necessary funding. To date $800K has
been secured with two grants yet to be received.
CIP
and Annual Request -
The Commission discussed the Capital
Improvements Program request of $50,000 per year for the 2011-2016
period and reaffirmed their position that continued funding for the
protection of open space in Warner was important as reflected in the
CIP.
In
terms of making a request for funding in 2011, however, the Commission
voted unanimously not to ask for any funding at the March Town
Meeting. This position reflects the Commission’s sensitivity to the
economic conditions affecting Town tax payers, as well as the fact
that the Commission doesn’t have a conservation project in the
works. While the Kearsarge Farm project will utilize all of what was
in the fund following the 2010 Meeting, several current use tax
penalties have been deposited into the fund in recent months, thus
allowing the Commission to consider embarking on a small project.
Joint
Meeting w/ Planning and Zoning Boards -
Jim reported that no
meeting has yet been scheduled, but that the Selectmen’s office is
still pursuing the matter. Discussed having a planner speak to the
Commission on the subject of environmental land use regulations that
may be available to towns. Jim will check with CNHRPC.
Wetlands
Issues -
Russ reported that there were no new wetlands permit
applications on file.
Planning
Board Report -
The Commission reviewed the revised Natural
Resources chapter for the Master Plan update and agreed that it
addressed all that the Conservation Plan goals and recommendations.
Jim
reported on the zoning amendments that are being considered by the
Planning Board for inclusion on the March Town Meeting warrant. The
one change that the Commission felt strongly about is the proposal to
expand the Commercial C-1 Zoning District in Davisville from the
current 500 feet offset from Rt. 103 to the Warner River, an area that
is presently Open Conservation OC-1. This area is underlain by one of
the most important aquifers in town as well as being in the flood
plain of the river. Jim was asked to draft a letter stating the
objection to this expansion. Peg offered to provide information
supporting this position.
Other
Business -
The Commission discussed the subject the Town’s
easements and the fact that there has been little monitoring of them
in recent years. This topic will be placed on next month’s agenda.
Discussed
the PSNH environmental grant program. Nancy will contact Judy
Pellettieri about involving Simonds School fifth graders in a project
to stencil each of the storm drains in the village warning that storm
water entering the drain ends up in the Warner River.
There
being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:20 P.M.
The
next regular meeting is December 1, 2010.
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