Open space areas within the Town of East Haddam have been and
continue to be a diminishing resource, and such open space areas are
considered a valuable asset to the community. It is recognized that
there is a need to obtain additional open space areas in order to
meet future recreational needs, to preserve agricultural lands, to
protect natural resource areas and to maintain the Town's quality
of life. In the 1980s, the State of Connecticut, through its plan
of conservation and development, made commitments to acquire open
space but has fallen for short of its commitment. The Town of East
Haddam cannot depend solely on the state. The establishment of an
open space trust fund will permit the acquisition of land and/or purchase
of development rights for areas identified in the Plan of Development
Open Space Plan and other recreational and conservation planning documents.
Not in any set order of importance:
A. Protect contiguous areas of open space; assemble corridors or greenbelts,
wildlife corridors and trails, and add to present open space throughout
the Town and adjoining communities.
B. Protect surface water, wetlands, watercourses, and aquifers.
C. Protect critical or threatened species and natural communities with
emphasis on areas identified in Connecticut's Natural Diversity Data
Base and Endangered Species List; preserve areas to support the existing
diversity of species, species in decline and improve habitats.
D. Preserve farmland and productive forest land.
E. Protect lands of cultural importance, including archeological and
historical sites.
F. Encourage development only in areas capable of supporting development
without adversely impacting the environment.
Not in any set order of importance:
A. Protect East Haddam's rural character and maintain and improve the
quality of life for the residents.
B. Preserve the diverse and native plants, animals and natural communities
indigenous to East Haddam by protecting the open spaces they need
to survive and coexist with the residents of East Haddam.
C. Tourism is recognized as of major economic importance to East Haddam.
Retaining open space will provide a long-term economic base for tourism
by continuing to maintain an attractive landscape for the tourism
industry.
D. Protect and enhance the value of all properties with progressive
planning.
E. Reduce the final burden on the taxpayers. It is recognized that development
increases the tax base but never covers the cost incurred for Town
services. Studies concluded that towns with the most commercial and
industrial activity still have higher yearly tax rates. The Town can
preserve open space without sacrificing the tax base.
F. Provide property owners with another option or device to protect
their property rather than selling the property for development.
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation
of this article:
AGRICULTURAL LAND
Any land in the Town suitable by reference to soil types,
existing and past use of such land for agricultural purposes and other
relevant factors for the cultivation of plants for production of human
food and fiber or production of other useful and capable plant products
and for production of animals, livestock and poultry useful to man
and the environment and land capable of providing economically profitable
farm units, which may include adjacent pastures, woodland, natural
drainage areas and other adjacent open areas.
APPROPRIATION
A legal authorization granted by the Town Board of Finance
and Town Meeting to make expenditures and to incur obligations for
specific purposes.
CONSERVATION EASEMENT
The grant of a property right stipulating that the described
land will remain primarily in its natural state and limited future
or additional development.
DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS
The right or combination of rights of fee simple owners of
open, unimproved, forest and agricultural land to develop, construct
on, sell, lease or otherwise develop or improve such land for uses
that render such land no longer open, unimproved, forest or agricultural.
The acquisition of development rights is not intended to prevent any
development of the land to which the development rights relate. Development
may be allowed which is consistent with the public purpose for which
such development rights are purchased and provided that such development
is permitted, pursuant to a written document approved by the Town.
GREENWAY
Any corridor of open space that protects natural resources
and/or provides recreation. By way of example, greenways can be located
along a waterway or other defining feature, such as a ridgeline, or
along a man-made corridor such as an abandoned right-of-way, abandoned
Town road or a woods road. It can be a green space along a highway
or around a village. Greenways can provide the vital "missing links"
to connect existing protected areas and to give people convenient
access to the outdoors. A greenway can be as wide as a river valley
or as narrow as an abandoned roadbed.
OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint a Land Preservation
Committee. The membership of the Committee shall be composed of an
individual or representatives from each of the following commissions,
boards and organizations: the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Finance,
the Board of Education, the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Conservation
Commission, the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission, the Historic
District Commission, the Economic Development Commission, the Recreation
Commission, the Agriculture Commission and the East Haddam Land Trust,
Inc. The membership shall coincide with the terms of election or appointment
from each committee or board and follow the political balance in accordance
with Connecticut General Statutes. This Committee will be responsible
for the preservation of agricultural and open space in Town, for the
review and selection of agricultural and open space and for making
recommendations to the Town for the land and for expenditures of any
funds from the Open Space Trust Fund or any other source.
[Amended 11-30-2010]
OPEN SPACE LAND
Any area of land, including forest land, land designated
as wetland under C.G.S. § 22a-38 and farmland, the preservation
or restriction of the use of which would:
A.
Maintain and enhance the conservation of natural or scenic resources;
B.
Protect natural streams or water supplies;
C.
Promote conservation of soils, wetland, beaches or tidal marshes;
D.
Enhance the value to the public or abutting or neighboring parks,
forests, wildlife preserves, nature reservations or sanctuaries or
other open spaces;
E.
Enhance public recreation opportunities;
F.
Preserve historic or archaeological sites; or
G.
Promote orderly development compatible with the aforementioned
goals.
OPEN SPACE PLAN
A plan or plans prepared by the Conservation Commission pursuant
to § 7-131a of the General Statutes and/or prepared/assisted
by the Planning and Zoning Commission, Recreation Commission or special
advisory committee.
PAYMENT OF FEE IN LIEU OF OPEN SPACE
Funding option, pursuant to C.G.S. § 8-25, as amended.
The Planning and Zoning Commission may authorize a subdivider to pay
a fee into an Open Space Trust Fund administered by the Town of East
Haddam in lieu of the disposition of land, as set forth in the East
Haddam Subdivision Regulations.
[Amended 3-28-2018]
PLAN OF DEVELOPMENT
A plan or plans prepared by the Planning and Zoning Commission
pursuant to C.G.S. § 8-23.
As provided in § 7-131a of the Connecticut General
Statutes, as amended, the East Haddam Conservation Commission shall
administer the properties and rights acquired as intended.