Kensington Conservation Commission

Minutes of April 8, 2008

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

1. Call to order 7:40pm

2. Minutes of March 10 and 25th approved

3.  Cole easement update and discussion.

• Sydnee shared that Cole appeal was denied by the Nation Appeals Division.
• Discussed alternative means of funding the easement.  Sydnee will get draft of the easement language to Rob to share with donor.
• Discussed easement language and agreed that public access to the easement land is important.  Would like the easement to contain language that allows public access for passive recreation, such as bird watching, walking, and cross country skiing.  Sydnee will contact Mary Currier and Coles about this. 
• Motion to expend $200,000 from Kensington Conservation Fund to purchase an easement on the Cole property and in addition pay closing costs from Kensington Conservation fund for said agreement.  Seconded and approved unanimously.
• Sydnee will apply to Coastal Watershed Land Protection Transaction Grant for Cole appraisal and Kimball closing cost.  The grant can cover as much as $3,000 for each property.
• Discussed other properties to use the Cole FRPP funds on.  Sydnee will contact land owners about this.

3. Kimball easement update and discussion.

• Members approved summary of Kimball closing that Sydnee would like to put on web site.  Also decided to put it in Community News.
• Motion to pay $7,500 from Kensington Conservation Fund for issuance of bond for Kimball easement.  Seconded. Approved unanimously.

4. 2008 Agenda discussion

• Rob examined the master plan to see if there are conservation related recommendations that haven't been addressed yet by the town or conservation commission.   Both the recommendation to make conservation subdivisions mandatory and the incorporation of habitat information into the development process haven't been addressed.  The commission would like to see how Open Space Subdivision could be more attractive to avoid the more land consumptive conventional developments.  Members are not sure if they can be made mandatory. 
• Sydnee shared a brochure from a conservation consultant in Durham (Birch Tree Conservation Consulting 659-6063, Rachel Stevens).  Rob thought it would be helpful to have a map of the town's conservation land, habitat, features, and trails, if it was readable by the general public.  Sydnee will contact the consultant to see what her product could look like and what the cost would be.
• Sydnee will invite Selectmen and Planning Board to next conservation commission meeting to discuss how the town's open space subdivision ordinance could be more attractive to developers.

5. Motion to pay $150 to ERLAC for annual dues. Seconded and approved unanimously.  Joan will take care of this and Southeast land trust payment.

6. Sydnee announced that Buxton's DES wetland dredge and fill permit application was accepted.

7. Adjourn 9:04pm