Kensington Conservation Commission

Minutes of March 11, 2008

Members in attendance: Heather Douglas, Joan Skewes, Rob Garneau, Sydnee Goddard

1. Call to order 7:40 pm

2. Minutes approved

3. Motion made “that KCC donate $100 to Southeast Land Trust being that they are holders of multiple easements in town and monitor them without cost to the town.”  Motion seconded and approved unanimously.

4. Sydnee gave update on Kimball easement progress. 

• Extra funds are available from FRPP bringing the award to $677,100.
• Expect to close on the easement on March 25^th
• There will be a hazardous waste inspection by NRCS after closing

5. Sydnee gave update on Cole easement appeal.  National appeals division has not yet announced their ruling on the appeal.  If the appeal is rejected, Kensington will have an extension (unknown duration) to use the award on another project.

6.  Sydnee gave update on Bill Buxtons standard dredge and fill application to DES wetlands bureau.  On behalf of the commission, Sydnee sent a letter to DES supporting the changes made in the proposed drive plans for the property on Osgood Road.

7. Sydnee sought and gained approval for a thank you letter to the Bates/Query family for their donation of a conservation easement on their 39 acre property on Drinkwater Road.   

8.  Discussed potential 2008 agenda. 

• Agreed that commission should look at how town building regulations could be modified to make them more environmentally friendly and how open space development regulations could be made more attractive.  
• Joan shared Peter Merrill’s suggestion that regulations might be changed to reduce runoff to help charge the town’s aquifers.  Joan will contact Rockingham Planning Commission about this idea.  
• Discussed the value of a round table discussion about the regulations including members of other boards, but agreed that the discussion would need a clear agenda set by the commission. 
• Discussed the value of Prime Wetlands mapping.  Sydnee suggested we wait and see how well it is supported in other towns during the March vote.  Commission not sure of the value of Prime Wetlands mapping in Kensington.
• Rob will revisit the town’s master plan to see if there are things that haven’t been addressed.
• Discussed need for a regulation enforcement officer to check that development are going according to regulations.

9.  Adjourn 9:30 pm