[0:03] All right, we are recording to the

[0:04] cloud.

[0:06] » Terrific. It is 12:04

[0:08] and I'd like to call the meeting to

[0:11] order. Good afternoon and welcome

[0:13] everyone to the regular meeting of the

[0:15] new Kanan Conservation Commission this

[0:17] Thursday, September 10th, 2026.

[0:22] The first order of business will

[0:24] actually be to amend the agenda. we had

[0:27] done something similar for the when we

[0:29] discussed the leaf um lower ordinance.

[0:32] So what I would like to do is uh move

[0:36] public comment to proceed agenda item

[0:39] number seven and then also we'll correct

[0:43] the typo on the agenda which has two

[0:47] uh number fives and we'll just make that

[0:50] um top spot bench tuck that under item

[0:55] number four Bristo update 4A will be the

[0:58] top spot bench. So, those uh are that is

[1:02] the amendment to the agenda that I

[1:04] proposed. Do I have a motion to make

[1:07] that change?

[1:08] » I'll make a motion to make those

[1:09] changes.

[1:10] » Thank you, John. Do I have a second?

[1:12] » I'll second.

[1:12] » Thank you, Ann. All those in favor?

[1:16] » Good.

[1:17] » Terrific. Thank you.

[1:20] » So, our next um agenda item will be the

[1:22] approval of minutes for the July 9th,

[1:24] 2020 6th meeting. Do I have a motion to

[1:28] approve those?

[1:28] » Who has public comment? We're okay.

[1:30] We're going to move that to seven.

[1:32] » Oh, I'll make a motion to approve the

[1:34] minutes.

[1:35] » Thank you, John. Do I have a second?

[1:38] » I can second that as well.

[1:39] » Thank you, an

[1:44] um

[1:46] Bristo update. Robin, are you on the

[1:49] line?

[1:51] » Sorry. Yep, I'm here. Um,

[1:54] » Thanks. So, um, just an update that, uh,

[1:57] Land Trust went in. Uh we did some work

[1:59] throughout August um just weed whacking

[2:02] some areas working on the Cam Hutchkins

[2:04] garden. Um this past week we cleared the

[2:08] the shunt dam tiger. I don't know if

[2:10] that's the right terminology. Um, and we

[2:12] did rake out that area um to allow the

[2:16] water to get through um with the muck.

[2:19] But

[2:19] » Is is that something that can be dredged

[2:22] out or I don't know with wetlands what

[2:25] on on getting the water to flow to the

[2:28] pond.

[2:31] » So the uh Yeah. So we're working on a a

[2:34] maintenance permit with inland wetlands.

[2:37] So uh an annual maintenance dredging

[2:39] permit. We have one for me and for Mill.

[2:43] We just have to have one for the Bristo.

[2:45] So, it wasn't included in the original

[2:48] permit uh wetland permit that we went

[2:50] for for the actual restoration of

[2:53] Bristo. So, we're working towards um

[2:56] that and we'll get that hopefully be a

[2:58] like I said an annual Thank you very

[3:00] much. Uh an annual uh maintenance

[3:04] agreement that uh and that we just

[3:06] notify Kathy that we're coming in to

[3:08] take care of it. We come in and take

[3:09] care of at least once a year.

[3:11] » Okay. And then

[3:12] » Permit, we'll take care of it.

[3:14] » Is Is it okay that I'm going in there

[3:15] and just raking it back a little bit to

[3:17] allow water to go through?

[3:18] » A little bit of maintenance is fine.

[3:20] Yeah. Like that is fine. Yeah. For

[3:21] actual dredging, you know,

[3:24] » Just a little channel. Okay. Just make

[3:26] sure

[3:26] » Channel work. That's a That's a little

[3:28] bit much. But yeah.

[3:29] » Okay. And then um the dead maple by the

[3:32] entrance. We received at land trust some

[3:34] calls from people about that, but um

[3:36] that's gone to bid to the selectman, the

[3:38] board of selectmen for approval.

[3:40] » Yeah, it was on it. Yes, that's correct.

[3:42] That that that's going to the selectman

[3:44] this Tuesday. So, it was on a bid. We

[3:47] received the bids uh and that that

[3:50] package will go to the selectman on

[3:51] Tuesday for award and the contractor

[3:54] will start on it directly.

[3:56] » Okay. And then uh just a couple more

[3:57] things is thank you for the signs by the

[3:59] way. the um close the gate. Hopefully

[4:02] people keep keep those.

[4:05] » When I went to go put it up, the the the

[4:07] the upper one off of the flexi pave was

[4:10] wide open. The one down below was a jar.

[4:14] So the one off the baseball field was a

[4:15] jar. So when I went to go put both signs

[4:17] up, basically both gates were open. So

[4:20] but one was completely wide open, the

[4:22] other one just happened to be a little

[4:23] bit of jar. So hopefully they'll pay

[4:25] attention. it. You know, if you grew up

[4:27] on a farm, you know, you you leave the

[4:28] gate the way you found it, right? Which

[4:30] is it closed, right? It's closed, it's

[4:31] closed, it's open, it's open. But

[4:33] hopefully,

[4:33] » I think people who are going in there

[4:35] with strollers and the like, it's

[4:37] awkward to push a store through and then

[4:40] you come back and leave the stroller and

[4:42] close the gate. And I think that that's

[4:44] a lot of it.

[4:46] » I agree with you.

[4:48] And uh so the only other things um there

[4:51] we we have received through land trust

[4:52] some calls about um I guess residents at

[4:56] around 289 Park Street. There are some

[4:58] dead large trees in Bristo and they're

[5:00] just wondering if the town will be

[5:03] looking at them. Um if you're from Park

[5:05] Street, you can see one. It's that you

[5:07] know there's no leaves on the trees and

[5:09] it's completely cleared out. They but

[5:11] they've been calling Landrust with

[5:12] questions about that.

[5:13] » Um

[5:14] » When they when they call the land trust,

[5:15] just forward them on to us. forward to

[5:17] you.

[5:18] » Yeah, please. And I'll I'll I'll get the

[5:20] tree word now. That's off of 289 Park

[5:22] Street. You know,

[5:23] » 289 Park Street. I'll I'll email you

[5:25] with with uh the two people that have

[5:27] been reaching out. Um

[5:29] » That would be great.

[5:30] » And then I mean the only other things is

[5:32] we've spotted uh a green heron in the

[5:35] pond if the conservation commission

[5:37] wants to know that's been eating the

[5:38] goldfish. Uh we have video of it. So

[5:40] that was pretty cool. Um the B of Bristo

[5:42] is coming up um in Bristo and Land Trust

[5:46] is a sponsor and so we will most likely

[5:49] have some volunteers out there during

[5:50] the events. Um but otherwise we've been

[5:52] walking the trails. Um we have uh

[5:54] National Cherry League volunteers

[5:56] helping with uh the bird feeders, but

[5:59] otherwise everything looks good.

[6:02] » I think the only thing I have to add is

[6:04] that we have there is some trail repair

[6:06] that we um have planned that was uh from

[6:09] storm damage. We went out to bid on

[6:11] that. That's just we had storm damage in

[6:13] every trail. Uh not every trail but

[6:15] every park. So Wveny Kuanas and Bristo,

[6:18] but that's going to the selectman on

[6:20] Tuesday. So the contractor will start on

[6:22] that shortly thereafter. So um he'll

[6:25] likely focus first on Waven because of

[6:27] the cross country series uh you know the

[6:30] high school cross country um season is

[6:32] underway and then he'll roll to Bristo

[6:34] and Kuanas after that.

[6:36] » Right. Where in Bristo was the damage?

[6:39] There was several areas that uh um I'll

[6:41] send you the pictures. We and a little

[6:43] bit of a little bit of bridge repair um

[6:46] on the main bridge going over the um by

[6:49] the four-way junction.

[6:50] » So, was it flooding?

[6:51] » It was Yeah, just too much volume. Too

[6:53] much volume of water. Basically, it was

[6:55] during that major where you got four

[6:57] inches in an hour, you know, uh during

[6:59] that storm. Just the trails couldn't

[7:01] take got a little washed out. So,

[7:03] » Not that bad in Bristo much much much

[7:05] heavier in Waven,

[7:07] » Right? Um but we we packaged it all

[7:09] together Bristo Kuanas and and Wavey all

[7:11] together in one package and went out to

[7:13] bid instead of going out separately. So

[7:17] » Okay. All right. Thank you. Uh

[7:21] » Robin to continue. We um I believe uh

[7:24] you requested a vote on the top spot

[7:26] bench. Is there any information want to

[7:29] share with us before we

[7:31] » No, I don't know if Barbara Scabiki is

[7:33] there, but um she did.

[7:36] » Okay. She did reach out to Land Trust

[7:38] and Friends of Bristo and uh absolutely

[7:41] in support. Um and we would love love to

[7:44] have a bench there by I think it's is it

[7:46] going by the pond?

[7:51] » Do you want to

[7:53] you want

[7:56] » I think we may need you to come forward

[7:58] and speak

[7:59] » In one of the

[8:03] Christian ideas because he used to I I I

[8:06] live right next door to the very sanct

[8:10] for 37 years

[8:11] » Until last week. Hello.

[8:13] » Hi.

[8:14] » Um

[8:15] » Could you introduce yourself for

[8:16] » Oh, I'm Barbara Skitzky.

[8:18] » Hello Barbara.

[8:19] » I live 87 on Stanford Road.

[8:21] » And uh I was actually put my hand up

[8:23] when you mentioned about um the parents

[8:25] coming through and it was difficult. Um

[8:27] I'm going to disagree with you. Um as as

[8:30] working with parents for 37 years, they

[8:32] are capable of bringing in and then

[8:34] closing the gate. I know they're

[8:35] capable. I'm just thinking it's it's one

[8:38] of those annoyances that they and to I'm

[8:40] going to be leaving so I'll just leave

[8:42] the gate open.

[8:43] » I know. I let them know all the time.

[8:45] Could you just close it? I'm like I'm

[8:46] I'm renowned to be backwards and

[8:49] forwards there.

[8:50] » And I'm so grateful the signs, you know,

[8:52] to close the gate. So, no problem.

[8:54] » The weird thing is in the front when the

[8:55] gates when the signs went up there,

[8:57] almost 100% of the people closed it. The

[9:00] same people going out the other way, the

[9:02] signs weren't there. They didn't close

[9:03] it. So, there's still something, but

[9:06] still.

[9:06] » So, did you have a particular spot in

[9:08] mind for the

[9:10] » Bench?

[9:10] » For the bench.

[9:11] » If not, he can

[9:13] » Uh I do. Um

[9:17] maybe Robin can help me. I don't know.

[9:19] Um where my yellow house is. And if you

[9:22] look straight into the bird sanctuary,

[9:24] if it could be somewhere looking at on

[9:26] would be perfect because all the parents

[9:28] would love to have that. Um and and and

[9:31] it's got a nice little saying about the

[9:32] top spot and stuff. It would be

[9:34] fantastic for all the children if that's

[9:36] possible. If not, they may be at the

[9:38] pond because they'll always be walking

[9:39] around the pond.

[9:42] » Terrific.

[9:44] » I like to talk. I have to just say

[9:46] though because of the top spot there. So

[9:49] many children and I send Chris photos to

[9:51] Chris Ship. I said you can use them if

[9:53] you want as an advertisement with the

[9:55] backs of the children dancing through

[9:57] the bird sanctuary. It's really a

[9:59] fantastic thing. Fair enough. We could

[10:01] get your contact information and get

[10:02] those correctly.

[10:03] » Yes.

[10:04] » Great. Well, thank you. Uh do I have a

[10:06] motion then to approve uh locating and

[10:09] dedicating the top spot bench in

[10:11] Bristol?

[10:14] » Have a motion.

[10:14] » I'll make a motion. I'll make a motion

[10:16] to do that. Yeah.

[10:17] » Do I have a second?

[10:19] » I'll second this one as well.

[10:21] » Thank you, Ann. Uh commissioners, all

[10:24] those in favor, just raise your hand,

[10:25] vote I or say I.

[10:27] » I. Great.

[10:28] » Unanimous. unanimous. Thank you. It's

[10:30] approved.

[10:31] » Thank you very much.

[10:35] » All right, moving on to the next agenda

[10:36] item. That would be the South Avenue

[10:39] tree update. Tiger, could you help us

[10:40] with that?

[10:41] » Sure. So, uh we um we replaced all but

[10:45] one of the trees that were uh we had

[10:48] nine trees that needed to be replaced on

[10:50] South Avenue. Uh we replaced all but

[10:52] one. The one that we didn't replace,

[10:54] Burns, was still working in the area.

[10:56] So, we've got to come back out now and

[10:57] replace that one. But they were they

[10:59] were finalizing their work. Thankfully,

[11:01] now

[11:03] all the pipe work is done. Um, and

[11:06] they're on to uh restoration. So, well,

[11:09] repaving and then restoration. So, the

[11:11] repaving will happen. A little plug. Got

[11:14] nothing to do with you guys, but a

[11:16] little plug for the next five Saturdays.

[11:18] They'll be working on South Avenue from

[11:20] Harrison to to Farm Road. So, if you

[11:22] want to avoid it, avoid it. And then

[11:24] after that, they'll come in and start

[11:25] doing driveway restoration, curb repair,

[11:28] and repairing that entire kind of the

[11:30] verge where all the trees are um

[11:32] subsequent to the repaving. Once we get

[11:34] the once we get the grades right on the

[11:35] on the road, then they can come back in

[11:37] and fix the driveways and the curving

[11:38] and all the rest of it.

[11:39] » So, we just have one tree left to go.

[11:41] But other than that, the trees look they

[11:43] each one is taken. Looks they look nice.

[11:45] You know, they they seem to be healthy.

[11:47] Bob's happy. Uh Beautification League is

[11:50] happy. Keith Simpson Associates happy.

[11:52] So I think it's I think it's a good

[11:53] thing

[11:53] » And residents

[11:55] » And residents. Yeah. Yeah. No

[11:56] complaints. Let's put it that way. That

[11:58] we had we we had fielded early, you

[12:01] know, and the beautifification league

[12:02] did a very nice job of working with each

[12:05] resident as to location and type. And

[12:07] then we fielded a couple of complaints

[12:09] at the at the time of initial

[12:11] installation. Appeased whatever you know

[12:14] needed to happen, switching a tree, what

[12:15] have you. Um switching a location,

[12:17] things like that. And uh we haven't had

[12:19] any complaints uh you know since. So

[12:22] yeah,

[12:23] » Trees on farm road look great too. And

[12:25] Bob, thank you. Yeah,

[12:26] » Done a nice job of a tree replacement

[12:28] for one he took down onel as well.

[12:30] » Yeah, we we uh we had about 40 plus

[12:33] trees that that uh we did throughout

[12:35] town, but that stretch on Farm Road is

[12:38] most visible visible, right? Because it

[12:40] was probably, you know, several it was a

[12:41] bunch of trees in that one row there

[12:43] kind of coming up the hill from Main

[12:45] Street or, you know, White Oak Shave. So

[12:47] it looked really That looked really

[12:48] nice. That looked good. Yeah. Um he so

[12:51] he's he's trying to in areas that where

[12:54] we have a large impact he makes you know

[12:57] he's trying to plant something back in

[12:58] his place we're so well canopied in

[13:01] other areas he can take a tree down it's

[13:03] dead or diseased and people not

[13:04] necessarily notice it you know but if

[13:06] it's in an area like that along farm

[13:08] road it's very noticeable so at that

[13:09] point in time he goes back and replaces

[13:11] it. So

[13:11] » These are all pretty small trees though

[13:13] that you planted. I mean varieties I

[13:15] mean not what you planted but the the

[13:18] variety of tree that you planted.

[13:19] » It's about Yeah. 3 to 4 inch caliber you

[13:22] know is about what we're

[13:23] » But their cover is more like a smaller

[13:27] tree not a oak tree.

[13:28] » Right. Yeah. The majority of them. Yeah.

[13:30] Well right tree right tree right place.

[13:32] Right. So we got to be we got to be

[13:34] aware of that. especially like on Farm

[13:36] Road, we've got the sidewalk directly

[13:38] adjacent and then the roadside and then

[13:40] in certain areas, we've got utility um

[13:43] lines above it. So, in those those

[13:44] cases, we were planting like a a shrub

[13:47] or a bush, something that was going to

[13:48] be low growing. So, we wouldn't have a

[13:50] problem with with the wires, you know,

[13:52] going forward.

[13:55] » Great.

[13:57] If that's it, Tiger, can I ask you to um

[13:59] move on to the next agenda item, and

[14:01] that's the transfer station update.

[14:03] Sure. So, the uh I I just got handed a

[14:07] whole bunch of data for the uh for the

[14:09] transfer station itself. I I got to go

[14:11] through it a little bit before I

[14:13] quantify it for you guys and put it into

[14:15] the that spreadsheet for you, but we'll

[14:17] um we'll we'll have that done for you

[14:19] shortly. Um and then as far as uh as far

[14:22] as it goes, we have two events coming up

[14:24] at the transfer station. Uh well, um in

[14:27] in the in the entire area, I should say

[14:29] in our compound. So we have household

[14:31] hazardous waste day this uh Saturday

[14:34] from 8 to 2. Um so on the website is the

[14:38] uh what you can bring, what you

[14:39] shouldn't bring,

[14:40] » Right?

[14:40] » Um for us, but uh but I I I suggest this

[14:44] is the last um of the household

[14:46] hazardous waste day um events for this

[14:49] year. So we're in a consortium with five

[14:51] other towns, right?

[14:52] » We're always last. So this is the last

[14:54] one. So, um, if you if you want to clean

[14:57] out your uh clean out your garage or

[14:59] your shed, come this weekend. Um, and

[15:01] then next week on the 19th, we have a

[15:04] shred day from 8 to 1. So, and all we

[15:07] ask is no staples, no three- ring

[15:09] binders, no no paper clips. Um, and

[15:12] they'll shred the the um the items right

[15:14] there in front of you, so you don't have

[15:16] to worry about uh any security or

[15:18] safety. Um, and that usually is a very

[15:21] well attended event as well. So, I'd say

[15:23] get there early and then, you know, be

[15:26] patient.

[15:27] » Do you have the town publicizing that on

[15:29] their social media accounts?

[15:30] » Yeah. So, it went out. Yeah. So, it's

[15:31] been I send out a DPW update weekly. I

[15:35] don't know if you register for it, but

[15:36] it goes out every Sunday at noon time

[15:38] and then Monday, depending on if there's

[15:40] happening something on the roads, it's

[15:41] every day. Uh, if you go on the town

[15:43] website in the upper leftand corner, it

[15:46] says uh uh town alerts, so you can

[15:48] register for my updates and then anyone

[15:50] else. the um first selections newsletter

[15:53] and then others. So uh yeah and then we

[15:56] have that on just on our website as

[15:58] well. So it's on social media website

[16:00] and my updates for the past two three

[16:02] weeks

[16:03] » Right

[16:03] » On that. Then uh we usually typically

[16:06] put out a variable message board a

[16:07] couple days beforehand to uh just off

[16:10] the 394 Main Street entrance so that

[16:12] people know exactly where to go because

[16:14] you don't come in through the uh access

[16:15] road off of uh Lake View that goes into

[16:18] the transfer station. you come into the

[16:20] lower portion of the compound uh um off

[16:22] Main Street and queue up there.

[16:27] » All right.

[16:28] » Okay.

[16:29] » And any other questions for Tiger?

[16:32] » Okay. Thank you, Tiger. We'll let you

[16:34] go. We're going to move on to

[16:35] » All right.

[16:36] » Thank you.

[16:37] » Discussion.

[16:43] » Great. Thank you.

[16:45] Per the amendment to the agenda. Our

[16:47] next uh agenda item will be public

[16:51] comment and I do believe we have some

[16:52] people in the room. If you can help me

[16:54] John sort of

[16:55] » Direct that public comment and if you

[16:57] see anything online as well that'll be

[16:59] helpful.

[16:59] » All right let's start with the room. I

[17:01] suggest if anyone wants to come up to

[17:02] the podium and make a comment with

[17:05] regard to

[17:05] » I would ask you just to uh introduce

[17:07] yourself name and then the um the street

[17:09] that you live on.

[17:12] It'd be great if we could get a camera

[17:14] coverage of our public commenters.

[17:18] I don't know if that's possible.

[17:21] » Neilie Sticknoff 137 Elm Place.

[17:28] » Oh yeah, sure.

[17:32] » Simple solutions.

[17:33] » No. Um

[17:35] » I don't know if I like

[17:36] » We're doing We're doing pretty well on

[17:37] time for the meeting. Uh, and I

[17:40] certainly do not want to um

[17:43] » Have any kind of public comment, but I

[17:45] will ask everybody to try to keep it to

[17:46] about uh two minutes. But again, I don't

[17:49] want to restrict any public comment, so

[17:51] we'll do our best to to hear everything.

[17:53] I'll take this one.

[17:58] » Um, I was commenting on the uh uh

[18:02] » Who are you? I didn't hear you. Neie

[18:05] Stiknoth

[18:07] 137 Elm Place.

[18:09] Um I was commenting I saw the on the

[18:13] discussion on the uh wave.

[18:15] » Yes. Oh, last night,

[18:17] » Right? And I I was present at the at

[18:20] that discussion last night. Um I

[18:24] presented a couple of things because

[18:25] there seemed to be this this question

[18:27] about

[18:29] the e parcel and what that all means.

[18:32] Um,

[18:33] I had received this pamphlet which I

[18:36] have uh given copies of

[18:39] » From uh Steve Banko years ago and this

[18:42] is a brochure that they used in 1967 to

[18:45] uh uh to get residents to to buy into

[18:49] the idea of open space and it's really

[18:52] great because it you know they went

[18:53] through the kinds of things that you

[18:56] know they were anticipating to happen in

[18:58] Waven and it's exactly what has

[19:01] Um both parcels the the next uh image

[19:07] that you have on that sheet shows the

[19:09] parcels after the tour. Um the par the E

[19:14] and D were were both purchased in ' 67.

[19:17] As you all know the discussion is about

[19:19] E. But any conversation that we have

[19:22] about the deed for E is the same deed

[19:25] for D. So ste includes the house and

[19:30] some of the surrounding areas uh

[19:32] carriage barn powerhouse theater but D

[19:35] is our open space there. So if we're

[19:38] saying that D it's okay to do to say E

[19:42] is oh it's the mulch pile no big deal.

[19:44] We're kind of saying opening up D as

[19:46] well. And I think that's significant

[19:49] because uh you know this is something

[19:52] that we have as as a uh

[19:54] multigenerational space. People of all

[19:57] ages go they enjoy our our park. It's

[20:00] one of the benefits of New Kanan. And if

[20:02] we're saying that the problem with

[20:04] McCainan is that um we want young people

[20:07] to move here, well, they're moving here

[20:10] for for open space. That's it's it's

[20:12] it's such a unique thing that New Kanan

[20:15] has. So the idea that we're going to to

[20:18] now start to to limit that in any way

[20:21] that that particular parcel or anything

[20:24] related to Wave uh doesn't make any

[20:27] sense to me um for what for the for the

[20:29] use that they're talking about. Um the

[20:33] the final uh image is at of the map is

[20:37] of the the resource map that was done

[20:40] for the national register listing which

[20:44] was done in 2019. You can see where

[20:47] parcel E is and how large it is. It's

[20:50] actually the largest contiguous part of

[20:52] waving and that's the part that we're

[20:56] that seems to be presented as the

[20:59] stepchild, you know, like that's just an

[21:02] add-on. But in actuality that was the

[21:04] part that was very compelling to um the

[21:10] Shipo and the National Register because

[21:14] we are one of the only uh sites that has

[21:17] you know 282 acres that is contiguous

[21:21] that still looks when you come out of

[21:23] the the back of Waven it still looks the

[21:26] way it did then what it's not it's grass

[21:28] now instead of farmland but it's you

[21:31] still see the slope you see you still

[21:32] the geography and that's that's really

[21:35] important. So, um and that was what was

[21:38] so unique is that that we still have

[21:40] that and and we're in Fairfield County.

[21:43] You know, the idea that that that we as

[21:45] New Canaanites have been able to

[21:47] maintain that.

[21:48] » So, I just would like to say that we

[21:50] would I personally think that that

[21:52] should continue uh as wave as it as it

[21:56] stands now. And uh

[21:58] » Great. Thank you.

[22:01] » Thank you very much.

[22:02] I have a quick question.

[22:05] » That parcel E, does that actually

[22:07] include the parking lot at Talmage Hill?

[22:10] » No, that's parcel A.

[22:13] » Oh.

[22:16] Oh, I see. Okay. So, it's really not

[22:18] part of this.

[22:19] » No.

[22:20] » Property D. This is the woodland then.

[22:22] » Exactly.

[22:23] » This is where they play that thing in

[22:25] the woods.

[22:25] » This golf.

[22:26] » Sorry.

[22:29] » We took a tour.

[22:30] » Yeah. Um but yes that that area

[22:33] » There's a lot of topography in there as

[22:34] well.

[22:35] » Oh it's so

[22:35] » This is not a building site.

[22:37] » No and as a matter of fact there's also

[22:39] a lot of wetlands because that's the

[22:41] Nurotin River goes right down around

[22:43] there. And as a matter of fact, when

[22:45] they were doing the national listing,

[22:46] they they mentioned that of any place

[22:49] that there might be artifacts from uh

[22:52] you know, Indian civilizations, their

[22:54] settlements, that it would all be a near

[22:57] parcel E because that was the one that's

[22:59] the closest to any kind of water.

[23:02] » Interesting.

[23:02] » Thank you very much for that.

[23:05] » Yeah, appreciate that.

[23:07] » All right, continue. Go ahead, John.

[23:11] » Yep, we have

[23:13] Next public commenter.

[23:17] » Oh, Jimmy.

[23:22] » Your your name and street address.

[23:25] » That's fun to hand out. I made five

[23:28] copies, but obviously there's only three

[23:29] of you. I take that you'll send this

[23:31] along

[23:32] » To Tom. Yes. And

[23:34] » It'll become part of the record

[23:35] » To both Toms. Yes.

[23:36] » Perfect. Thank you.

[23:38] » Um I want to echo my name is Jennifer

[23:41] Holm. I live at Smith 1328 Smith Ridge

[23:44] Road and I've lived here in town over 26

[23:47] years.

[23:48] » It's Jessica Holmes.

[23:49] » Jennifer

[23:50] » Jenn

[23:54] um I echo Neil's sentiments, but I'm

[23:58] also here to talk to you about something

[23:59] that's very critical and important that

[24:02] basically is state law. Um, in the state

[24:05] of Connecticut, we are blessed with a

[24:08] law and the statute was recently updated

[24:10] in 2025

[24:12] to do parkland for parkland as I call

[24:14] it. It basically outlines that if

[24:17] anyipicality changes a use and I've

[24:20] highlighted it for you or for other

[24:23] purposes which the part the which land

[24:26] was purchased for or other recreational

[24:29] or open space purposes for which bonds

[24:32] were issued for such purposes or which

[24:35] has been dedicated for such purposes

[24:38] then the town has to provide equal value

[24:41] and equal size

[24:43] and this has been really critical as you

[24:46] know because open space is continuing to

[24:48] disappear. And the reason why this law

[24:50] came about in the 1970s was because they

[24:54] found many times municipalities were

[24:56] taking land for because it was free to

[24:59] build highways and other things like

[25:01] parking lots. And so what the state

[25:05] legislature did is in their wisdom is

[25:09] say that you must replace it. And

[25:11] recently in 2025, they also wrote into

[25:15] the law and it was passed that it was

[25:17] basically when you do a change of use of

[25:21] parkland or open space, this is

[25:24] triggered, but it isn't triggered after

[25:26] the fact. It's if you go on to the next

[25:29] sentence, you're required to have a

[25:31] public hearing. And that public hearing

[25:34] is a state requirement. and they outline

[25:38] how often you must notify which uh and

[25:41] what the language must be in the notice.

[25:43] But I want to point out to this

[25:45] commission that essentially the

[25:48] municipality

[25:49] use of such land and any reason for the

[25:53] proposed taking. This is not after the

[25:56] fact or concurrently. This is proposed.

[26:00] So here we have a proposal on the table

[26:02] to take this parkland and this hearing

[26:05] must then basically speak to the public

[26:08] and allow the public to speak on the

[26:11] taking of this land, the use of it and

[26:14] then it also must talk about what

[26:16] replacement is going to be provided and

[26:19] what other land was considered. This is

[26:22] all of the required public notice. So I

[26:26] strongly urge this commission because

[26:28] you are in charge and are basically our

[26:30] stewards, one of our stewards of open

[26:32] space to work with potentially park and

[26:36] wreck or independently to do this study

[26:39] prior to thisou being signed. This is

[26:42] really critical because what we have now

[26:45] seen and there was a recent court case

[26:48] called Kensington playground in New

[26:50] Haven was that essentially this allows

[26:54] then the public to weigh in on open

[26:57] space and parkland and wave as wave as

[27:01] as Neil talked about was basically those

[27:04] deeds deed this as open space parkland

[27:08] and they're actually zoned that way in

[27:10] our zoning regulations.

[27:12] So I strongly ask that this commission

[27:14] take this under consideration and either

[27:17] do their own independent study or work

[27:19] with park and wreck to do that.

[27:22] » So thank you John.

[27:24] » In the taking of a replacement parcel,

[27:27] you're not necessarily

[27:29] required to do the replacement parcel

[27:33] with the same zoning as the taking

[27:36] parcel. Well, um I would say that if you

[27:39] take parkland, what the statute says is

[27:41] you must replace parkland. Uh you don't

[27:44] replace it with something else, you

[27:46] replace it with parkland. So I call it

[27:50] parkland for parkland and it's when not

[27:53] and you know hear this a lot. Uh people

[27:56] have been talking about this deed and

[27:58] that we paid for those two parcels. That

[28:00] is irrelevant. this was, you know, I can

[28:03] buy a house and in the deed it says I

[28:06] can't knock the damn thing down. Well,

[28:07] guess what? I can't do that even if I

[28:09] paid for the house, which I should have.

[28:11] In this case, I would note that when

[28:13] Mrs. Lapam Lloyd looked at that and made

[28:17] those parcels and made those covenants

[28:19] in those deeds, she was very cognizant

[28:22] of parcel C and she was very cognizant

[28:25] to separate that out for educational and

[28:28] hospital purposes. And if the same logic

[28:31] would apply to allow this to be built at

[28:34] the mulch pile, then she should have had

[28:36] that language also on that part of the

[28:38] deed. I would also say to the following,

[28:42] we paid as a community with a bond for

[28:45] that parcel below market rate. So at the

[28:48] time when we bought that, if we didn't

[28:50] feel that we wanted to be unencumbered,

[28:52] we should have asked her to remove that

[28:54] easement. We didn't. We actually, as

[28:57] this points out in this brochure,

[28:59] actually wanted that.

[29:00] » We wanted to ensure that longevity and

[29:03] that per perpetuity. So I believe quite

[29:07] honestly that she was very cognizant of

[29:10] what she was doing when she made those

[29:11] deeds. She actually outlines in parcel C

[29:14] that you can have a corporation, a

[29:16] for-profit, a non-forprofit. I strongly

[29:19] urge you to read those deeds. They're

[29:21] very important. And it isn't about what

[29:24] the town's wishes are. It's really about

[29:26] what her wishes are.

[29:28] » Those are that's her legacy to us and

[29:30] that's a legacy I still feel strongly

[29:32] that should be maintained. And if you

[29:34] want to argue, you want to take

[29:36] Parkland, then you also must follow the

[29:38] state statute. It's not a may, it's not

[29:41] a should, it's a shall if you read this

[29:44] this the statute. And it's been a very

[29:47] active statute. So, the fact that the

[29:49] legislature has had this since 1970 and

[29:52] revised it in 2025 means it's very

[29:56] important to them. And we all know how

[29:57] long it takes the legislature to get

[29:59] anything done, believe me. But it's

[30:02] actually extremely important and

[30:03] extremely important for all of us who

[30:05] aren't here for generations to come.

[30:08] » Did I answer your question?

[30:10] » Yes. It was surpris

[30:16] all all of this. Well, I think you know

[30:18] what I think I give people the benefit

[30:20] of the doubt. They may not know. I don't

[30:22] know if you knew about this statute. Um,

[30:25] and its importance. Um, so let's have

[30:28] everyone get educated.

[30:29] » I'm not actually speaking about the

[30:30] public. I was thinking about the

[30:32] presentation made by the representatives

[30:34] of the way many care.

[30:36] » I understand.

[30:37] » They should know about this.

[30:39] » Well, we all should know. That's my

[30:41] » Now we do.

[30:42] » Now we do, right?

[30:44] » Fantastic.

[30:44] » Thank you. I have a quick follow-up

[30:46] question. Sure. Um, I think this source

[30:48] document here, the brochure that you

[30:51] provided is really interesting and I

[30:54] just wanted to get a little bit of

[30:57] information about where you found this

[31:00] and um, and the author here, Peter

[31:04] Emmens, chairman of the Lloyd Lapam

[31:07] Property Committee. Um, and then we've

[31:09] got committee members here. Are these

[31:11] uh, is this a town commission or is this

[31:14] » So, let me Yeah. So, um, Neilie can also

[31:17] talk speak to where she found it, but

[31:19] when you look at the deed, in the deed

[31:22] for parcel C, it discusses creating a

[31:25] five-year commission. In that

[31:27] commission, she names these people to

[31:30] sit on that commission. Uh, when she

[31:32] names those commission members, she

[31:35] named those commission members for a

[31:37] period of five years to study parcel C

[31:39] and to make recommendations for its use.

[31:43] and it's all in parcel cdeed

[31:46] um that you can basically find online.

[31:49] And at that point, those commission

[31:51] members then basically made those

[31:53] recommendations with that permitted use

[31:56] and basically felt that with her

[31:59] concurrence at the time because she was

[32:01] still alive up until uh she was live in

[32:04] 1972 when it was called New Kanan

[32:07] Healthc Care opened. It wasn't called

[32:10] Waven at the time. um that when they

[32:13] actually opened their facilities and I

[32:16] actually have found the Elise agreement

[32:18] between them, New Canon Healthcare and

[32:21] the original 1972

[32:23] discussion about what should go on

[32:25] there. So these people that you see

[32:27] mentioned here are basically that

[32:29] committee that was formed. This is a

[32:31] representation of her views essentially

[32:34] » And their views

[32:35] » And their views after studying uh this

[32:38] uh parcel

[32:40] » All the parcels and then the request to

[32:42] basically we would they obviously were

[32:44] had a conversation with her and

[32:46] obviously the recommendation was she

[32:49] would like to give more remember she she

[32:51] gave everything but DNA to the town

[32:54] including the house.

[32:56] » So at that point she basically made a

[32:58] decision. She says she could have gotten

[33:01] $2.5 million at the time for Parcels's

[33:05] DNE, but she decided that we could sell

[33:06] it to her for 1.5. And this brochure was

[33:11] basically put out by that committee and

[33:14] the support of the town and the town

[33:15] council at the time to basically issue a

[33:17] bond.

[33:20] » Okay, fabulous.

[33:22] » Great.

[33:22] » Thank you, Jennifer.

[33:23] » No problem.

[33:25] » We'll include this in the

[33:26] » Thank you, Jim. Good to see you.

[33:28] » Good to see you, too. If you have a

[33:29] digital copy of this

[33:30] » Oh, uh, I'll give you this

[33:31] » That you could email.

[33:33] » Oh,

[33:34] we do.

[33:35] » Yeah,

[33:35] » That'd be great. So, then we could

[33:36] attach it to the minutes for the record.

[33:40] » Thank you. Thank you.

[33:42] » All right, we're running a little over

[33:44] on public comment, but we perhaps have a

[33:46] few more.

[33:48] » Yeah, let me ask the question. Any other

[33:50] public comment in the room, please?

[33:54] » Hi, Michelle Crookenden.

[33:57] Oh, Michelle, we're gonna go through the

[33:59] room first.

[34:00] » Oh, sorry. Room. My apologies.

[34:02] » We'll be right with you, Michelle. Thank

[34:03] you.

[34:04] » Please come up. Please come up.

[34:06] » Next in the room.

[34:08] » Please step over.

[34:15] » This is purely

[34:18] self-s serving and anecdotal. My name is

[34:20] Sally Anne Powell. I moved to New Kanan

[34:23] in um 1977

[34:26] as a newlywed with my husband. We lived

[34:28] here for three years on Summer Street.

[34:30] Mabel Lamb sold me my house. Pete

[34:32] Raymond gave me my mortgage by sitting

[34:34] in his office. We moved away in 1980 and

[34:37] then we moved back in 1985. I've lived

[34:40] here on um Cheese Road ever since. My

[34:44] children were born here, raised here. I

[34:47] should be a target population for this

[34:50] proposed facility. The town of New

[34:53] Canaan basically has been my home for

[34:57] these almost 45 years. I believe that

[35:01] the mulch pile or whatever we want to

[35:03] call it. New new Kanan's parks have as

[35:08] we have improved them and especially

[35:09] Waveny has been an integral part of my

[35:13] life, my children's life. I really think

[35:15] we should go back, study the documents

[35:19] that we have and make sure we keep

[35:22] waving the way it is. I should be the

[35:25] person. I'm 76. My husband is 79. I'm

[35:29] the one who should be be saying yes,

[35:32] yes, we need something like this now.

[35:35] Well, we may we may because I've taken

[35:39] care of parents, in-laws, and everything

[35:40] else, but I don't think that we need to

[35:44] destroy Waven, which is a jewel to uh

[35:49] affect this type of facility here. There

[35:52] are other ways to get this type of

[35:55] facility. Believe me, I've toured these

[35:58] facilities for parents, in-laws, and

[36:01] everybody else. there are a need but

[36:04] maybe this is not the right place and I

[36:06] think it behooves us here to examine

[36:09] everything very very closely. This is

[36:12] just a personal opinion. Thank you.

[36:14] » Fantastic.

[36:15] » Thank you very much. Very well said.

[36:17] » Thank you.

[36:20] » Anyone else in the room there to public

[36:22] comment?

[36:24] » Okay, I think we've exhausted the room.

[36:26] Um

[36:28] Michelle, I heard you first. Do you want

[36:30] to jump in? Thank you, Michelle.

[36:33] » Thank you, John. Michelle Crookendon, uh

[36:35] 49 Bartling Drive. I've been a resident

[36:38] for 22 years. Um some of you know I also

[36:41] serve as Wave Park Conservy's executive

[36:44] director, but I'm really speaking as a

[36:46] resident. Um here I just am going to add

[36:50] a few small details that are factual,

[36:52] not an opinion. Um,

[36:55] first is that the conserv few people

[36:57] have asked me if the conservancy has

[36:59] weighed in with a view or an advocacy on

[37:01] this project and we have not. We have

[37:04] consciously met and decided to allow

[37:07] residents to investigate, share their

[37:09] views, decide what's best for the town

[37:12] and we will fit in accordingly when when

[37:15] and the time is right if this moves

[37:17] forward. Um, so the conservancy is not

[37:21] making any official statement at this

[37:23] point. Um, however, I want to correct or

[37:27] maybe just weigh in on some things that

[37:29] I think have been in discussion,

[37:30] including last night at the parks and

[37:32] recreation commission meeting. Um, one

[37:35] is some maybe um, misunderstandings

[37:39] around the footprint of the project,

[37:41] which is often referred to as the mulch

[37:43] site. The mulch site is 5 acres. the

[37:46] footprint of the project as proposed is

[37:48] 20 acres. So, it is four times the size

[37:51] of the the mulch site. Um it's just a a

[37:54] good thing to understand. Um that

[37:56] obviously is subject to some change, but

[37:58] that is the current project proposal. Um

[38:01] there's been questions around how

[38:05] » Did someone have a question?

[38:07] » No, go ahead.

[38:08] » Continue, Michelle.

[38:09] » Charles, we heard you there for a

[38:10] second.

[38:11] » Questions around how affordable it is.

[38:13] It's not my place to weigh in on the

[38:15] economics of the project, but it is

[38:18] definitely not something that would meet

[38:20] affordability tests under our, you know,

[38:23] on our state requirements to uphold

[38:26] moratoriums. So, I think there's been

[38:28] some side conversations about what Wave

[38:32] Wave Life Care Network could do to help

[38:35] mitigate the impact that this

[38:37] development would have, but um there's

[38:40] currently nothing outlined for that.

[38:43] Um, and then the other thing that I

[38:45] wanted to mention is, um, I think it was

[38:47] Neilie who mentioned that the property,

[38:51] the entirety of Wave Park is a listed

[38:54] National Historic,

[38:56] um, and State Historic Register property

[38:58] and that includes all the parcels. So,

[39:01] if it's helpful to anyone to see that, I

[39:04] can send uh to the commission the link

[39:07] that has all the detail of the um

[39:10] application in 2019 to put us on the

[39:13] historic register, but it really does

[39:16] include I think as Neilie mentioned,

[39:18] some specific language that highlights

[39:21] the importance of parcel E

[39:25] in granting.

[39:27] Very good.

[39:28] » So, those were all those were all my

[39:29] points.

[39:30] Thank you, Michelle.

[39:31] » Great.

[39:32] » Thank you, Michelle. That link would be

[39:34] very helpful, I think, in terms of uh

[39:36] seeing the totality of the of the of the

[39:39] uh application and whatever that

[39:40] response was.

[39:41] » I'll forwarded that on after after your

[39:44] » I have a quick follow-up question,

[39:46] Michelle. Um you said that the Wave Park

[39:49] Conservancy has not weighed in with a

[39:52] formal view on the merits of this

[39:55] project. Uh and um we know that there's

[39:59] a town council meeting coming up I

[40:02] believe on the 16th where there will be

[40:04] a memorandum of understanding

[40:08] uh proposed. Um and so do you have a

[40:12] timeline established for if or when you

[40:17] might weigh in as an organization on

[40:20] this project?

[40:22] » Um it's a fair question. I think

[40:27] in short, no. But I think what what is

[40:30] really guiding our board is that the

[40:34] definition of I mean we have the the

[40:37] conservancy has its own memorandum of

[40:39] understanding with the town that was set

[40:41] out 11 years ago when this um

[40:42] organization was established. And

[40:44] although we're independent, everything

[40:46] we do is advocacy. We really don't h you

[40:49] know the town the town does own the

[40:51] land. So we don't have any independent

[40:53] control of projects or pushing things

[40:56] forward. Um but our memorandum of

[40:59] understanding with the town does not

[41:02] include oversight of the land on that

[41:06] side of of Lapam Road. So we have a

[41:09] boundary of our area of influence. And

[41:12] for better or worse, it's within the

[41:15] lands um going to South Avenue, south of

[41:18] the drive, the main drive through the

[41:20] park and to Lapam Road. Um and that's

[41:23] really been kind of our guiding force

[41:25] here is this is outside of our scope.

[41:28] Um, and that doesn't mean individuals on

[41:31] our board and myself don't have views,

[41:33] but we've tried to remain circumspect

[41:37] and allow this process to be more

[41:39] publicly, you know, publicly weighed in.

[41:42] » So, I don't think actually, you know,

[41:45] have a voice as an organization, but you

[41:48] may hear individuals express their

[41:50] opinions,

[41:50] » Right?

[41:51] » Great. Thanks. Thank you.

[41:53] » Thanks very much, Michelle. Anyone else

[41:55] online care to weigh in?

[41:58] Yes,

[41:59] » Charles, go ahead.

[42:00] » Thank you for recognizing me. Um, I'll

[42:04] try to be very brief and that is uh I

[42:07] speak for myself and my wife Sarah who's

[42:10] in the room with me now. She had been on

[42:11] the call independently on her computer.

[42:14] We feel very very strongly that uh Waven

[42:17] Park should be preserved precisely the

[42:20] way it is now. that they there should

[42:23] not be uh allowed a discussion of

[42:27] alienating any portion of it for a hay

[42:30] penny for a dollar, a million dollars,

[42:32] hund00 million.

[42:34] It's a gem.

[42:37] We've raised our family here, by the

[42:39] way, for Carter Street, New Cananan,

[42:42] second oldest house in New Kanan.

[42:44] » Place matters. It mattered to the state

[42:48] historic preservation office and to the

[42:51] National Trust.

[42:53] It's their number one consideration to

[42:56] bismerch

[42:58] that place.

[43:00] It would be a shame. So I would urge you

[43:04] to conserve it precisely the way it is.

[43:08] Thank you.

[43:09] » Great. Thank you, Charles.

[43:11] » Thanks, Charles. Anyone else online?

[43:17] I think that's it, Tom.

[43:18] » That's it. Thank you, John, for

[43:21] coordinating that. Difficult for me to

[43:23] do it remotely.

[43:24] » Yeah, exactly. Exactly.

[43:26] » So, with with that, we're going to move

[43:28] on to the next uh agenda item, which is

[43:31] the commission's discussion on the Wave

[43:34] Lifeare network proposal for parcel E.

[43:37] And again, this will be for the uh four

[43:40] commissioners present in today's

[43:42] meeting. Would anyone uh Any of the

[43:45] commissioners like to start? John and

[43:47] Susan, would you like to start with

[43:48] comment

[43:50] » Or discuss? I'll

[43:50] » Start just to just to lay out that one

[43:53] of the duties of the conservation

[43:55] commission is to conduct research into

[43:57] the utilization and possible utilization

[43:59] of land in New Cananan. And that's one

[44:02] of our only four required duties. So it

[44:05] squarely fits within our purview to uh

[44:09] to be taking this issue up. Um, and so

[44:11] we are essentially required uh to uh uh

[44:15] to look at the issue. Um, and yeah, and

[44:19] I just want to kind of uh uh I I have a

[44:23] I have a motion that we might um we

[44:26] might discuss, but throw it open to

[44:28] other people who wanted to express

[44:30] express views.

[44:34] » I'm sorry. Are you finished or you

[44:36] » I'm going to come back with a with a

[44:38] specific motion.

[44:40] Oh, any other commissioners like to

[44:42] jump? I didn't want to jump.

[44:44] » No, I mean I would concur. I think that

[44:45] is a it is a responsibility.

[44:48] Um, and hopefully

[44:52] if the town is going to proceed with

[44:55] pursuing this, I think all of these

[44:59] various

[45:00] site restrictions need to be carefully

[45:03] considered, openly carefully considered.

[45:07] Um

[45:09] and

[45:10] I think that's a very important point I

[45:13] guess to my comment to earlier to um one

[45:18] of our pres uh commenters was that

[45:22] » It seems to be glossed over in prior

[45:26] comment. I found listening last night

[45:28] that it didn't seem to be a key point

[45:31] that needed to be openly considered. So

[45:35] hopefully as you're drafting your

[45:37] motion,

[45:39] um I think that is our obligation.

[45:43] » I agree. And um I also attended the

[45:48] parks and wreck um meeting about this

[45:51] last night and I wanted to draw

[45:53] attention to a particular slide which I

[45:57] can provide. Um they presented it to the

[46:00] community last night. It was titled five

[46:02] reasons this is worth evaluating. I

[46:05] think um some of the uh the points they

[46:10] made in this slide are directly in our

[46:14] wheelhouse

[46:15] » As stewards of uh open space. And um so

[46:20] I want to uh specifically note number

[46:23] three which says that the project will

[46:26] expand public access to open space

[46:29] that's currently a closed parcel. And um

[46:34] I think we need a a voice in um the

[46:39] discussion of some of these points

[46:41] because it seems to me that uh once you

[46:47] develop a piece of land, it's no longer

[46:50] open space. And if this parcel's

[46:54] considered closed because it's a mulch

[46:56] pile, um there are other ways we can

[46:59] open access for the public. And um so

[47:05] there uh in in the in these discussions,

[47:08] if if these are going to take place in

[47:11] the town um the for selectman for

[47:15] selectman's meeting, I think we should

[47:17] have some role in that conversation. I

[47:20] don't know if your motion is going to be

[47:22] relevant to that. So, I'll save it.

[47:23] Okay. So, I'll save that that for you.

[47:25] But I and I also wanted to point out

[47:27] number four, which said uh states that

[47:31] the project will simply expand Waven

[47:35] Park to be utilized by everyone. And um

[47:38] I think that is worth some scrutiny um

[47:43] because we have had

[47:46] a year's worth of guest speakers coming

[47:49] to this commission and um discussing

[47:54] conservation and wildlife uh in our open

[47:58] space. And um you know, we had our

[48:01] firefly expert who gave us this

[48:04] presentation about this new possible new

[48:07] species in Waven Park that hasn't been

[48:11] found anywhere else. Um and uh and we

[48:15] also had a bird migration expert come in

[48:19] and talk to us about the importance of

[48:21] our open space uh for migrating bird

[48:25] populations.

[48:26] And um so the process that seems to be

[48:31] laid out seems very swift. And if we are

[48:35] going to if we're required to study the

[48:37] issue, I would love to find a way to

[48:40] incorporate some of these expert voices

[48:44] on conservation

[48:45] in the town of New Kanan so we can uh

[48:48] make sure that information is brought to

[48:51] the public and to the uh the the

[48:55] committee that will be approving this.

[48:57] » Yeah.

[48:58] » Great. Um, and so John, if you have a a

[49:02] motion prepared, I'll I'll leave it to

[49:04] you.

[49:05] » I do. I do. And Tommy

[49:07] » And John, we'll we'll go ahead and hear

[49:09] the motion. If there's a second on the

[49:10] motion, then we'll open it up for

[49:12] discussion again as you nor do in the

[49:15] process of a motion and then we'll vote

[49:16] on it. So, there's additional time to

[49:18] discuss once we hear the motion. And and

[49:21] I should preface this by saying that Tom

[49:23] Herman worked on this specific motion,

[49:26] but it's exactly what I would also uh

[49:29] support, so I'll make it on my own

[49:30] behalf since he's not here. Um, the

[49:34] motion being moved that the New Cananan

[49:35] Conservation Commission requests that

[49:37] the town council formally consult with

[49:40] the Conservation Commission prior to

[49:42] taking any action to accept, approve, or

[49:45] enter into any lease agreement or

[49:48] memorandum of understanding regarding

[49:50] the proposal by Waven Life Care Network

[49:53] for development of parcel E of Waven

[49:55] Park.

[49:57] And be it further move that the

[49:59] commission finds such consultation

[50:01] appropriate and necessary because this

[50:04] will take a minute for me to read so

[50:05] bear with me. Wave park one maybe wave

[50:08] park constitutes open space and parkland

[50:11] subject to the commission's jurisdiction

[50:13] and mandate under uh charter 114 and 115

[50:17] to review and advise on matters

[50:19] affecting the town's open space, natural

[50:21] resources and conservation interests.

[50:24] two, the town ordinances C11489

[50:28] and C11-5, consultation with relevant

[50:30] town commissions or council uh action

[50:34] affecting land use of this character.

[50:37] Third, the proposed continuing care

[50:40] retirement community development would

[50:42] result in a substantial potentially

[50:44] irreversible change in a significant

[50:45] parcel of parkland implicating

[50:48] conservation values including open space

[50:50] preservation, tree canopy, wildlife

[50:53] habitat, and storm water management that

[50:55] falls squarely within this commission's

[50:57] expertise and statutory p purpose under

[51:00] Connecticut general statutes. Fourth,

[51:03] the land was conveyed to the town

[51:04] subject to deed restrictions intended to

[51:06] preserve its character as parkland and

[51:08] the commission has an interest in

[51:10] ensuring that any proposed use is

[51:12] elevated against those restrictions

[51:14] before the town council takes binding

[51:16] action. Uh, fifth, the meaningful

[51:19] consultation prior to a council vote

[51:21] rather than after is necessary to allow

[51:24] the commission's findings and

[51:25] recommendations to actually inform the

[51:27] council's decisions.

[51:29] Uh lastly, be it further resolved that

[51:32] the chair is directed to transmit this

[51:33] resolution to the town council and to

[51:35] request that no vote on the way lifeare

[51:37] network proposal be scheduled until such

[51:40] consultation has occurred.

[51:43] So that is my lengthy motion.

[51:45] » Okay. Do we have a second on the motion?

[51:49] » Second.

[51:50] » Thank you, Susan. All those in uh well,

[51:53] we'll open up for discussion as I

[51:55] mentioned. Um before

[51:56] » I think it's very comprehensive. Thank

[51:57] you. Sure is.

[51:59] » Yeah.

[51:59] » Uh by formally consult

[52:02] um would that be a public hearing or

[52:06] would that what would that look like?

[52:08] » Uh that would be the logical way to do a

[52:12] formal consultation would be in a public

[52:14] hearing would be my opinion.

[52:16] » Right.

[52:18] No, I think it's u I I I I approve the

[52:21] language uh in the motion. I I look

[52:24] forward to the opportunity to um learn

[52:27] more about the project and I think um

[52:31] that's very consistent with the way

[52:33] we've acted as a advisory commission in

[52:36] the past. I recently was contacted by a

[52:39] representative from the town of Derenne

[52:40] who Darianne is forming a conservation

[52:42] commission. They asked me uh how we work

[52:46] and um I gave them a couple examples

[52:48] from our our meetings and I used both

[52:50] the wellwater program meeting and the

[52:52] leaf blower ordinance meeting as an

[52:54] example of how how we operate and I told

[52:58] the represent from Darianne that we uh

[53:00] typically invite uh stakeholders or

[53:05] experts uh into our meeting to present

[53:07] to the commission so the commission

[53:09] becomes more informed but as a result so

[53:11] does the public because these are public

[53:14] meetings. We and again we did so um in

[53:17] in those two instances and as Ann has

[53:20] mentioned we've done it in in the past

[53:22] in in many other instances. So I think

[53:24] this is very consistent with that sort

[53:26] of way we operate as an advisory uh uh

[53:30] commission. So, I look forward to uh

[53:33] moving forward with that idea and

[53:36] perhaps reaching out to Russell Barkdale

[53:40] or uh any representative from the Wavey

[53:43] uh LifeCare network u to present to us

[53:48] uh as a commission so that we can learn

[53:50] a little bit more about um their

[53:53] intentions, a bit more factf finding and

[53:56] also uh to invite other experts uh to a

[54:01] weigh in uh as it relates to

[54:04] conservation open space in the town of

[54:07] Dana.

[54:09] » So I think we should take a formal vote

[54:11] on the motion.

[54:13] » Yes. And there any more comments? Well,

[54:16] I think I I like what you just said,

[54:18] Tom, and I wonder um do we need a motion

[54:21] to make that happen or uh should we

[54:25] reach out to the stakeholders

[54:29] um and invite, you know, devote one of

[54:32] our next meetings to the topic and make

[54:34] sure all the stakeholders are present so

[54:36] we can um properly ask questions and

[54:41] learn more about the project.

[54:43] » I I think so. And I and I I suspect

[54:46] there's going to be some redundancy. I

[54:48] mean, we there was a meeting la last

[54:50] night with parks and wreck. I don't

[54:51] think anybody would object to redundancy

[54:55] about hearing hearing more and more

[54:57] about this project. Information is key

[55:00] as far as um allowing people to make

[55:02] informed decisions. So I can I can make

[55:05] I can reach out myself uh on that

[55:08] matter. But I would also uh encourage

[55:10] you to help me with u reach finding and

[55:14] reaching out to additional uh experts on

[55:16] the subject matter beyond u u simply

[55:20] asking the wave lifeare network to

[55:22] present. So we'll work on that together

[55:24] as a commission.

[55:25] » Yeah. Yep. I can help with

[55:27] » I think perhaps then this speaks to the

[55:29] fact that this proposal for town council

[55:33] to review thisou

[55:36] in what did you say September 9 is a

[55:39] little premature and I think that they

[55:42] should consider the prospect that

[55:44] there's a lot of work to do before they

[55:46] actually take this up.

[55:47] » Exactly. Susan,

[55:48] » I I I Susan, that's an excellent point.

[55:51] I'm already hearing uh that that meeting

[55:55] might be pushed back till October.

[55:58] » I think so.

[55:59] » One followup, Tom. Um John mentioned the

[56:02] idea that we have a duty to study the

[56:05] issue and um there may be an you know an

[56:10] ecological study that that could be done

[56:12] on the impact uh on the site. That's the

[56:16] number.

[56:16] » You do something on one parcel, it's

[56:18] going to impact the neighboring, you

[56:19] know, the adjacent parcels and we may

[56:22] need funding to do a proper study. So

[56:25] that might be something that we take up

[56:26] in a future meeting as well.

[56:28] » It also takes time a study like that.

[56:31] You don't you don't whip that out in a

[56:33] week or so.

[56:33] » Right.

[56:34] » Right.

[56:34] » I mean, I would guess that this is

[56:36] easily six months off.

[56:40] uh some of that burden might fall on on

[56:43] on those who are putting forward the

[56:46] proposal.

[56:47] » Uh so we'll talk about that

[56:49] » As a commission.

[56:52] » I don't know who who is

[56:54] » Obviously it is out there. So um the

[56:58] town council decided this was possible

[57:02] and I think that's an issue. I don't I

[57:04] think the proposal that will be made by

[57:07] the wave care facility advocates or

[57:11] professionals will probably not differ

[57:14] hugely from what we saw but I think it's

[57:18] the town council that needs to say that

[57:20] this is this cannot be reviewed in this

[57:22] way.

[57:23] » Right.

[57:25] Understood.

[57:27] » Okay. Uh any other comments?

[57:31] So, we pass this motion, Tom. Then that

[57:34] would go to that would be a

[57:36] communication really to the town

[57:38] council,

[57:39] » Correct?

[57:40] » And um and then we would

[57:43] wait for a response that would come to

[57:46] you as the commissioner, as the

[57:48] director,

[57:49] » Chair.

[57:49] » Chair. Sorry. Thank you. Would that

[57:51] motion actually

[57:53] directly request that they postpone any

[57:58] action by the council in advance

[58:00] » Until they until they heard from us? I

[58:02] think that

[58:02] » I think that language is in there until

[58:04] they heard from us.

[58:05] » Yeah, this is this is non-binding

[58:08] obviously, but it is a formal request

[58:10] from our commission.

[58:11] » Yeah.

[58:12] » Order to ask a question.

[58:15] » Yes, but you have you'd have to come up

[58:16] to the microphones because we have

[58:18] minutes for the meeting.

[58:20] » Yeah. This is we need to make a quick

[58:22] this is actually

[58:24] » Discussion with the commissioners but I

[58:25] I'll allow a quick a quick comment if

[58:27] » Question are you asking for an

[58:29] environmental impact study independent

[58:32] of um wave lifeare is that what you're

[58:35] asking

[58:36] » No we're we're asking to do work with

[58:38] regard to

[58:38] » Okay I I just didn't understand the

[58:40] question I couldn't hear sorry

[58:43] » Thank you all right any more discussion

[58:46] points

[58:48] okay with that we have a motion on on

[58:50] the floor uh that John has uh read for

[58:54] us. Um and we had a second on that

[58:58] motion from an all those in favor of

[59:01] approving the motion raise your hand or

[59:04] say I.

[59:05] » I. All three of us here. Yes. And Tom.

[59:09] » All right. Very good. So, the motion

[59:10] passes. We'll have a little work to do

[59:12] to follow up on that, but I'll uh

[59:16] I'll manage that.

[59:19] So, thank you. Thank you for that. Um,

[59:23] we're going to move on now to the next

[59:24] agenda item, and that is um, uh, new

[59:28] business.

[59:30] I do not have anything on my

[59:34] schedule as far as new business. Anyone

[59:36] have anything they would like to add?

[59:39] The only thing I have is um I want to

[59:44] keep alive this uh possibility of

[59:48] creating a social media account for this

[59:51] commission so that we can communicate

[59:53] directly with the public. We were

[59:56] proposing that the ordinance

[59:59] um

[1:00:00] you know be proposed which would exp you

[1:00:03] know basically update how we communicate

[1:00:07] with the public. And so, um, it may not

[1:00:10] be something that we can take up in in

[1:00:12] we're already past five minutes, but,

[1:00:15] um,

[1:00:16] » Maybe, you know, with some of these live

[1:00:18] issues and, uh, so many people care

[1:00:20] about about this project and some of the

[1:00:23] issues we're taking on, uh, in our

[1:00:26] discussions, um, it would be great to

[1:00:28] have an avenue for communicating

[1:00:30] directly with with the public. So, I

[1:00:32] want to make sure that uh stays alive in

[1:00:35] our u in our agenda.

[1:00:38] for future meetings.

[1:00:40] » Right. Agreed.

[1:00:43] » Perhaps if we were able to draft

[1:00:46] something that that um embraces

[1:00:49] calculates what your intent is rather

[1:00:52] than we just talk about it

[1:00:54] » And that would give us a point of I mean

[1:00:56] I'm not sure even what that what what

[1:00:58] that would look like. It would be great

[1:00:59] if Tom were here, we could talk about

[1:01:02] the um ordinance because uh the during

[1:01:06] the summer we started we started the

[1:01:08] process of taking new ordinances to the

[1:01:11] um

[1:01:12] » The committee that the ordinance

[1:01:13] committee. I'm not sure where that

[1:01:16] stands or whether that process stalled

[1:01:18] out or

[1:01:20] um was put on hold. Tom, maybe

[1:01:25] you're your

[1:01:26] » Yeah, I will follow I will follow up on

[1:01:28] on that with with Okay. with Tom and and

[1:01:30] the um

[1:01:33] » And and also uh the town and the town

[1:01:35] council and the charter commission. It's

[1:01:38] not fully related to the charter

[1:01:39] commission that ordinances can stand

[1:01:41] outside the the revisions that have

[1:01:43] already been made to the charter, but

[1:01:45] it's still related and I'll follow up on

[1:01:48] » Great. And I take your point, Susan,

[1:01:50] that maybe this is as simple as a motion

[1:01:54] we vote on in the commission in the next

[1:01:56] meeting,

[1:01:57] » Right?

[1:01:57] » Yeah.

[1:01:58] » Yeah. Yeah.

[1:01:59] » I'll work on drafting.

[1:02:00] » Yeah. We could dedicate uh I would think

[1:02:02] dedicate perhaps a a significant part of

[1:02:06] the meeting to discussion point. And

[1:02:07] when we did that with uh when we talked

[1:02:09] about grant writing, our next step was

[1:02:10] to, you know, how do we move this into

[1:02:12] action? We invited Greg Riley into the

[1:02:14] room. He gave us a a nice presentation

[1:02:17] on how we might work with him on on uh

[1:02:20] grant writing, grant proposals. And sure

[1:02:22] enough, it was just two weeks ago that

[1:02:23] he sent us over, sent the commission

[1:02:26] over a first sort of viable, you know,

[1:02:30] um um you know, possible opportunity for

[1:02:33] for grant writing for Bristo for bird

[1:02:36] watching. So, you know, that's the type

[1:02:38] of follow-up that, you know, follow

[1:02:40] through. We we need to continue on.

[1:02:42] » We can do it with this communication.

[1:02:44] Yep. Great.

[1:02:47] » Okay. The uh next item on the agenda,

[1:02:51] and we're doing pretty well as far as

[1:02:52] time with a robust sort of meeting. Just

[1:02:56] seven minutes over here. Uh the next

[1:02:58] item is general information. Uh we have

[1:03:01] a meeting scheduled for October 8th.

[1:03:05] I'll go to work in getting um guest

[1:03:09] speakers for that meeting. And I suspect

[1:03:12] uh that'll be in relation to the uh

[1:03:15] Wavey Life Care Network proposal for

[1:03:18] parcel E.

[1:03:21] » Any other general information anyone

[1:03:22] needs to share?

[1:03:25] » Nothing here.

[1:03:26] » No.

[1:03:27] » Great. Thank you. Uh commission. With

[1:03:28] that, I'd like to call uh to adjourn the

[1:03:32] meeting. Uh can I have a motion to

[1:03:34] adjurnn?

[1:03:35] » John,

[1:03:36] » Make a motion to adjurnn.

[1:03:37] » Thank you, Ann.

[1:03:38] » Oh, Susan. Thank you. All those in

[1:03:41] favor?

[1:03:42] » I

[1:03:42] » I.

[1:03:43] » Great. Thank you everyone. Productive

[1:03:45] meeting. Uh thank you guests for

[1:03:48] sharing.

[1:03:49] » Thank you everyone for coming.

[1:03:50] » Thanks Tom.

[1:03:55] Humanness.

Conservation Commission Meeting September 10, 2026

Transcript