[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Tolland as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Alcoholic beverages — See Ch. 53.
Solid waste, recycling and hazardous waste — See Ch. 94.
Noise — See Ch. 103.
Parks and recreation areas — See Ch. 112.
Peddlers and itinerant vendors — See Ch. 115.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 143.
[Adopted 8-12-2014 by Res. No. 14-55]
The rules and regulations set forth herein shall apply to and be in effect in all areas under the control, supervision and jurisdiction of the Town of Tolland.
For the purpose of this chapter, terms used herein are defined as follows:
MOUNTAIN BIKE
Any type of nonmotorized bike being used for off-road riding.
OPEN SPACE
Any open space conservation areas owned by the Town of Tolland under the delegated management oversight of the Tolland Conservation Commission.
PERSON
Any individual, firm, partnership, corporation or association of persons; and the singular number shall include the plural.
PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
The Town department for open space conservation areas and individuals appointed by the Department as its authorized agents.
VEHICLE
Every device in, upon or by which one or more people or property is or may be transported.
A. 
No person shall be permitted to remain, stop or park within the confines of any Town open space between dusk and dawn, except in an emergency or with written approval. Night use of any type is by exception and requires advance written approval from the Tolland Conservation Commission. Submit the Application Form for Night Use of a Tolland Conservation Area to the Tolland Conservation Commission through the Town's Planning and Community Development Department.
B. 
In emergency situations or when the public interest demands it, any portion of Town open space may be closed to the public or to designated persons until it is deemed prudent to allow readmission.
C. 
Nonobservance of any provision of this section shall constitute a violation.
A. 
The signer of an Application Form for Night Use of a Tolland Conservation Area shall be responsible for all damages to open space facilities, grounds or contents thereof and shall agree to indemnify the Town of Tolland for such damage. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. All events shall abide by the "Leave No Trace" policy.
B. 
All approvals issued shall be in writing by the Tolland Conservation Commission and shall be subject to the open space's rules and regulations, unless a written exception is made. An approval to do any act shall authorize the same only insofar as it may be performed in strict accordance with the written terms and conditions thereof and not in violation of any law, ordinance, rule or regulation governing open space, unless a written exception is made. Any violation of any term or condition thereof or any law, ordinance, rule or regulation governing open space shall constitute grounds for revocation of said approval by the Tolland Conservation Commission, whose action therein shall be final.
A. 
Preservation of property and natural features. No person shall injure, deface, disturb or befoul any part of an open space or any signs, map boxes, gates or other property found therein; nor shall any tree, flower, shrub, rock or other natural element be removed, injured or destroyed. Visitors shall stay on marked trails.
B. 
Hunting, trapping and molesting wildlife. No person within the confines of any open space shall hunt, trap or otherwise molest any animal or bird; nor shall any person remove, collect or have in his possession the young of any wild animal or the egg or nest of any bird unless express written permission is given by the Tolland Conservation Commission.
C. 
Firearms. No person shall use, carry or possess firearms of any kind or have air- or gas-powered guns, crossbows or bows, or other missile-throwing devices or weapons of any kind within the confines of any Town open space.
D. 
Soliciting; unlawful sales. No person shall beg, hawk, peddle or solicit within any open space without written permission from the Tolland Conservation Commission.
E. 
Special events. The Tolland Conservation Commission requests notification of organized group use of the conservation areas owned by the Town of Tolland through its Notification Form of Group Use of a Tolland Conservation Area. The purpose is to avoid conflicts with other group users, coordinate with ongoing maintenance work and identify a responsible party to assure consistency with the "Leave No Trace" policy. Events or activities which, in the opinion of the Tolland Conservation Commission or the Planning and Community Development Department, constitute hazards and dangers to the personal safety of the participants or other open space visitors; endanger peace and good order in the open space; interfere with the regular and normal use of the area by open space visitors; or are inconsistent with the use of the open space purposes will not be permitted.
F. 
Noise. No person or persons shall disturb other open space users by causing excessive levels of noise.
G. 
Littering, rubbish, garbage, sewage and noxious material. No person shall bring into, leave behind or dump any material of any kind into the open space. Refuse is not to be dropped, thrown or scattered on open space property. No person shall throw, discharge into, cast, drop or leave in any river, brook, stream, pond, lake, or drain any substance, matter or thing, either liquid or solid, which may or shall result in the pollution of said river, brook, stream, pond or lake.
H. 
Alcoholic beverages. The consumption or possession of alcoholic liquors or beverages in an open space is not permitted.
I. 
Dogs, cats and other household pets. No person shall bring into, permit, have or keep in the open space any dog, cat, household pet or other animal destructive to birds and other wildlife, except that dogs or cats are permitted if held in control by a leash. All persons bringing pets into the open space are responsible for cleaning up after them.
J. 
Swimming. No person shall bathe, wade or swim within any open space.
K. 
Snow vehicles, motorbikes and all-terrain vehicles. Motorized snow vehicles, motorbikes, all-terrain vehicles or any other means of motorized transport are not permitted in any open space areas.
L. 
Mountain biking and horseback riding. Mountain biking and horseback riding are only permitted on certain trails. Mountain bikers and horseback riders must consult the permitted/nonpermitted signage on each open space property or the trail brochures at the main trail head of each open space property or the management plans and trail brochures found online at the Town of Tolland website or through the Town's Planning and Community Development Department. Bicycle riders and horseback riders must stay on the trails and ride in a manner respectful of the property and of other trail users. Horseback riders are responsible for cleaning up after their horses. The permittance to mountain bike or horseback ride on open space is subject to change depending on trail conditions.
M. 
Advertising and signs. No person shall post or display any sign, banner, advertisement, circular, notice or statement within any open space without the prior permission of the Tolland Conservation Commission.
N. 
Fires. No person shall make or kindle any fire in any open space.
O. 
Disorderly conduct. No person shall disturb the peace and good order in any open space by fighting or disorderly conduct; use threatening, abusive, indecent or obscene language; or threaten violence to the person or property of others. No person shall congregate with others in a public place and refuse to comply with a lawful order of the police or authorized personnel to disperse and leave the open space. No person shall loiter in or near parking areas. No person shall write, paint, carve or otherwise mark or deface public property. No person shall be in the open space under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
No parent, guardian or custodian of any minor shall permit or allow him or her, as the case may be, to do any act which would constitute a violation of this chapter. Nonobservance of this section shall be a violation.
A. 
No person shall fail or refuse to comply with any reasonable order relating to the regulation, direction or control of traffic or to any other order lawfully given by any police officer or Town official in the execution of his or her office or willfully resist, obstruct or abuse any police officer or Town official in the execution of his or her office or duties. Nonobservance of this section shall be a violation.
B. 
No official or employee of the Town of Tolland shall, while acting pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, be personally liable for any damage that may accrue to persons or property as the result of any act required or permitted in the discharge of his or her official duties, provided that such acts are performed in good faith and without gross negligence.
Any person convicted of a violation of this chapter shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $250. Any person damaging open space property shall be liable for any and all related damages.
[Adopted 7-14-2015 by Ord. No. 88]
In accordance with the Tolland 2009 Plan of Conservation and Development and pursuant to the provisions of Section 12-107c of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended, for purposes of assessment, all land in the Town of Tolland located solely in the Residential Design District, single-family residential zone, is designated as open space land, and may be classified as such by the Assessor upon application by the owners, subject to the following provisions:
A. 
The designed open space shall be undeveloped land of at least 10 acres, or 10 acres in excess of the minimum lot size for the zone or lot type (rear lot). "Undeveloped land" means land without buildings, roads, driveways, or other permanent structures or active mineral extraction activities.
B. 
Contiguous, as well as noncontiguous, parcels of land within a zone having the same title owner may not be aggregated for the purpose of determining the area which is eligible for open space.
C. 
Effective on the date of approval as a subdivision or resubdivision, any land which had been designated as open space by the Assessor shall be removed from such designation, and a conveyance tax paid, if required under Section 12-504a of the Connecticut General Statutes.