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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 21 2014 CP Minutes.pdfTown of Enfield Comprehensive Plan Committee Minutes May 21, 2014 - Enfield Community Building 1 PRESENT: Lori Elrod, Vera Howe-Strait, Judy Hyman, Marnie Kirchgessner, Rhoda Linton, Mary Jo Lovelace, Beth McGee, Becky Sims, Nancy Spero, Dan Walker ABSENT: Poney Carpenter Beth McGee called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Rhoda Linton asked what the committee meant by the best way to protect farmland is economic viability. There was discussion that the best way to keep agricultural land viable is to farm the land. Agriculture land should be kept that way and not turned into industry. Questions:  Is the designation of agriculture for the town a good decision. There is some marginal farm land that might be better to go back to forest and is not viable.  Is farming a full time or part time job in the community.  Does the town want to support agriculture to encourage people to farm. Community members will be invited to come to meetings to discuss agriculture in the town of Enfield. There was discussion on non-public roads that are created by developments and how they might be requested to become an official town road. The developments are regulated by the subdivision laws of the town. If the development area fell in disrepair the residents could go to the Planning Board for help and advice. It was noted that the “Wind Farm” has a designation that states they will take care of the “Farm” if the mills are no longer in use. Beth McGee announced that the June 25th meeting will have to be changed because of a conflict with a Workplace Violence workshop that will be held in the Community Building that same date. Randy Brown will be asked to come to the meeting on June 24th at 7:00 pm. June 18th CP Committee agenda will be a discussion on what is in other town Comprehensive Plans that is not in the Enfield Comprehensive Plan (CP). It was noted that the Town of Milo had goals and objectives in their CP. The language in the plan is definitive and assertive, a declarative language is used. There was discussion regarding the different projects that George Frantz presented at the last meeting. There is no budget in place for this group, but it was suggested they could go to the Town Board to ask for funds if needed. Judy Hyman stated she did not think the project the students came up with for designing the town was a good one. There was no input from the town. Beth McGee will ask Virginia Bryant if she has a copy of the report the students presented to the Planning Board. Marnie Kirchgessner stated residents need to buy into the plan. She felt the students would not do any more than what George Frantz’s class teaches them. Beth McGee said it is not a project to rewrite the CP but it was a clarification on some items in the CP and to add more details and develop a process on what is needed – what the community is interested in. There was discussion on code enforcement and state law that covers property maintenance. The subdivision law and site plan law of the town helps to regulate the town. It was noted that if there is a community problem the Town Board can help to find possible solutions to the problem. Town of Enfield Comprehensive Plan Committee Minutes May 21, 2014 - Enfield Community Building 2 A graduate student project involving the CP might be too expensive but that the student might be more vested in the community because of the time commitment. There are tasks that need technical assistances which might be good for a student project such as mapping. The town does not have a staff which handles mapping. The “CP Survey” conducted by the Planning Board is still viable and information can be utilized as a resource. Beth McGee pointed out that the committee does not have to use students at all for the CP. She did not know if Randy Brown’s committee use students for their CP. It was noted that when the students are involved you are also receiving George Frantz’s expertise. The Design Connect student project needs an application submitted by July. The Graduate Student project would need to be early summer and the request communicated through George Frantz. It was noted that the agriculture section may take longer in the working process not sure on when do to this July and August or middle of the winter. An easier section of the CP will be done first. There was discussion but no meeting dates were set for the month of July. It was suggested that possibility a section of the CP could be chosen to work on after meeting with Randy Brown. The next meeting on June 18th everyone should come prepared for a discussion on the different CP plans and possibility looking at the CP survey. Meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sue Thompson, Recording Secretary