Conservation Commission Discusses Open Space

A brochure about the town's open space was unveiled by the town planner at a recent Conservation Commission meeting.

Town Planner Robert Phillips showed the commission members a brochure, giving details about open space and the reasons behind it. The brochure states that Ellington has 2,582 acres or 11 percent of open space as of this past July.

The state's goal for open space is to have 21 percent by 2023. The brochure also states that open space is dedicated and protected. Open space is "land or development rights owned by the Federal or State government, the town, or land trusts," the brochure said.

Phillips said that the brochure will be uploaded to the conservation commission's Web site this week. He also plans to send it to residents who have subscribed to the town's e-mail list.

A physical copy of the brochure will be made available at three locations: town hall, the town planner's office, and the library.

Chairman Walter Moody mentioned that the electronic version of the brochure can be easily updated in the future.

In other business, Phillips also unveiled open space signage that will be placed at the town owned Batz Property, located at 97 Shenipsit St.

Phillips said the forest green colored sign is 4 feet by 4 feet and is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is "virtually maintenance free and long lasting."

The town's seal is on top of the sign. The sign uses gold accented letters to spell out "Batz Property, Town of Ellington, 860-870-3100."

Phillips said the first idea suggested was for the sign to read "passive recreation only," which is what the deed calls for on the property. The only problem was that people have different definitions of "passive recereation."  

"That was just opening Pandora's Box," he said.

The phone number on the sign is for the First Selectman's office. When someone sees the number, they can call and find out what they can do on the property, Phillips said.

Phillips said the property has to be left in its natural state, which limits its use. The property has been used by the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, he said. People can walk around the property and there are also personal garden lots there, he added.

The garden plots program started three years ago said Bob Tedford, Director of Recreation. There are 12 plots this year, but another 10 to 12 plots could have been added.

"I don't want to expand too much," Tedford said. "Getting bigger doesn't mean better."

These plots are open to residents who fill out an application and pay $18 per plot. This program is promoted through the town's Web site in March and April since the plots have to be tilled in May, Tedford said.

Tedford said that the Batz property is a great location for the program and has been very successful with what the participants grow there.

The one-sided sign for the Batz property will be placed near the parking lot on the property, which is still visible from the road, Phillips said. The reason it isn't next to the road so it wouldn't cause any problems with the residential homeowners across from the property.

"I didn't want to create a situation with the neighbors to upset them," Phillips said.

Moody told Phillips he made the right decision.

Signarama, in Vernon, created the sign for $1,375 and should be installing it very soon.

"I wanted to make sure we got a sign that was of a quality and an aesthetic value that won't become an albatross," Phillips said.