MINUTES
OF BETHANY CONSERVATION COMMISSION, NOVEMBER 10, 2016
Bruce
Loomis called the meeting to order at 8:09. Present in addition to Bruce were
Brian Eitzer, Matthew Popp and Patricia Winer. Shaukat Khan and Cathy Rives
were absent. Matt was appointed to vote in place of Cathy.
The
minutes of September 8th were reviewed. Brian moved to accept them and Patsy
seconded. Two changes were made. In the
fifth paragraph "it's" should be "its" and in the 7th
paragraph, dealing with executive session, the words 'to deal with a land
issue" should be added after "executive session." The minutes
were unanimously approved with these changes.
There
were no bills. Correspondence included the latest issue of "Habitat,"
a letter from Soil Earth Technologies regarding their services and a letter
from the Planning and Zoning Commission regarding a proposed new regulation on
interior lit signs. Bruce will add a discussion of this amendment to the
agenda.
The
Commission entered executive session at 8;15 to talk about a personnel matter
and exited executive session at 8:17.
Bruce
updated members on the application for a subdivision at 591 Amity Road.
Planning and Zoning approved the application and granted a waiver for open
space despite the fact that the applicant did not comply with the subdivision
regulations and consult with the Conservation Commission on an open space set
aside, and contrary to the Commission's recommendation of a fee in lieu. There
was no substantive comment in their minutes for the following meeting
justifying this decision to ignore the applicant's failure to comply.
The
Commission discussed the proposed new regulation on lighted signs, for which a
hearing will be held before P&Z on December 7. A special exception will be
required for such signs. Commission members expressed concerns about limiting
the brightness of these signs, requiring manufacturer's specs to be submitted
with each application, or requiring an expert to sign off on the specific
brightness of the lights to be used in a given sign. Bruce will write a letter
to P&Z acquainting them with our views.
The
trail issue on the Keegan property was tabled again.
Conservationist
of the year. The forms will have to be ready by the next meeting.
There
was a discussion of the town website showing preserved properties, and how to
make corrections. Brian offered to compile a list of easements and donated
properties that have been given since the publication of the Town Plan of Conservation
and Development. These should be listed on the website. Another change that was
suggested was to add a link to CACIWC and to DEEP. We need to go through Fran
Doba to make these changes.
Matt
moved to adjourn at 9:25. All voted in favor.
Respectfully
submitted,
Patricia
Winer
Secretary
Pro-tem
