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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Wheeler Conservation Easement Task Force - 04/25/2016 Wheeler Nature Park Conservaon Easement Task Force 575 Dorset Street South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 846-4106 www.sburl.com   Monday, April 25, 2016 Meeting Minutes Members Present: Jennifer Kochman, Mike Simoneau, Donna Leban, Melissa Cuke, Bey Milizia, Cathy Frank, Sarah Dopp, Michael Miag Staff and Consulng Team: Cathyann LaRose (City Planner), Holly Baker (Recreaon and Parks), Drew Pollak-Bruce and Mark Kane (SE Group). Several members of the public were also in aendance. The meeng began at 7:05 PM. Agenda Review: Addions, Deleons or Changes in Order of Agenda Items Mr. Miag offered to be the mekeeper to keep the agenda on track. Comments and Quesons from the Public Not Related to the Agenda None. Discussion of Final Product of Task Force and Next Steps Members discussed the goal of the Task Force. Kane reminded members that the goal is to provide the City Council, City Aorney, and eventual easement-holder of the important elements of the easement. It is not intended to be complete legal language. Members clarified that the 20 acres to be acquired in the land swap would be included in the discussion and final report. Task Force member idenficaon of Baseline Elements of the Property Members took turns working through the strategic framework worksheet, including idenfying baseline elements of the property, such as man-made features, ecological features, scenic and agricultural features, recreaon and historic features. Kane took separate notes, which will be coalesced for a future meeng. Several policy items emerged which may not be viewed unanimously; these will be addressed later, with the goal of making a clear recommendaon in the final report. Discussion of Legal Purpose of the Conservaon Easement Pollak-Bruce introduced the various purposes of conservaon easements- recognizing that they can each be different, while having similar intenons of ensuring connued known and conserved elements and acvies of a property. Kane stated that the day’s goal would be to discuss the primary purpose of this parcular conservaon easement. Members quickly and unanimously idenfied a desire to create at least two zones to be recognized within the easement, and that each may have a different purpose and subsequent features. Members discussed the Nature Park first (less the yet to be delineated ‘Homestead’ piece). Members discussed a proposal that the primary intent be ecological in nature, with controlled public access and unorganized acve and passive recreaon second. Members agreed that preservaon of ecological natures is important, with public access to the enjoyment of that preservaon also being a key element. Members agreed that there could be a ‘pping point’ where unfeered access would overwhelm the lands. Members agreed that the land should not be fully closed off to the public as part of any final easement. Members felt that the name of the land- NATURE PARK- was fing and vital in highlighng the purpose of the property. Members briefly reacted to sample purpose statements. SE Group will synthesize the feedback received from the next two meengs, and bring a purpose statement to the task force for respond to. Members next discussed the Homestead piece of the property. SE Group will work with potenal partners to determine whether a single purpose statement can apply to both parts of the property. There was agreement that allowed uses would likely be different for both parts of the property. Discussion of Potenal Conservaon Partners SE Group stressed that it will be important to understand the elements discussed this evening as different partners, or third party easement holders, may not be as amendable to adjust to the intricacies discussed by the Task Force. Pollak- Bruce gave a quick review of the potenal partners, including South Burlington Land Trust, Vermont Land Trust, Winooski Parks and Recreaon District, the Trust for Public Land, and Open Space Instute. Members did not have any addional potenal partners to add to the list. SE Group will send links for each to the members. Members stressed that any partner need walk the land to understand the unique diversity on such a small parcel. Conclusion and Plan for Upcoming Meengs Kane reviewed: 4 meengs and 2 public meengs. Members agreed to May 18th as the next meeng date, as it worked for the majority of members. Members agreed to a public meeng on June 16th at 7:00 PM. A meeng with conservaon partners might take place in early July, with a City Council meeng to follow thereaer. Meeng Minutes of March 16, 2016 Kochman suggested that the minutes reflect that Kochman proposed that two members of the SBLT be included in the commiee. Miag moved to approve minutes as amended. Ms. Dopp seconded. All voted in favor. Adjourn Meeng adjourned by common consent at 8:45 pm.