South Windsor Agriculture, Arts & Nature Center

SOUTH WINDSOR AGRICULTURE, ARTS & NATURE CENTER COMMITTEE

 

TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR

 

Minutes                                                         Page 1                                                 July 9, 2014

 

 

Madden Room – South Windsor Town Hall

 

1.    Call Meeting to Order

 

The meeting was called to order at 5:37 p.m.

 

2.      Roll Call

 

Members Present:       Mayor Saud Anwar, Town Council

                                       Pat Botteron, Open Space Task Force

                                       Councilor Tom Delnicki, Town Council

                                       Stephanie Dexter, Planning & Zoning Commission

                                       Ray Favreau, Director of Parks & Recreation

                                       Jeff Folger, Senior Environmental Planner

                                       Sandy Jeski, SWALPAC

                                       Michele Lipe, Director of Planning

                                       Andrew Paterna, Parks & Recreation Commission

                                       Tim Shepard, South Windsor Land Trust

                                       Councilor Jan Snyder, Town Council

                                       Betty Warren, IWA/CC

 

Members Absent:       Katie Graham, Parks & Recreation Commission

                                       Ginny Macro, Historic District Commission

                                       Councilor Liz Pendleton, Town Council

                                     

3.      Approval of Minutes/Unofficial notes

 

Unofficial notes were approved by general consensus of the Committee, as shown in attached, Exhibit A.

 

4.      Public Input

 

None

 

5.      Discussion Item

 

A.       Election of Chairperson(s)

 

Sandy nominated Andy as Chairperson, Councilor Snyder seconded the nomination.  There were no other nominations.  Nominations were closed.  The vote was unanimous.

 

M. Michele Lipe nominated Jeff Folger as Co-Chairperson, Councilor Snyder seconded the nomination.  There were no other nominations.  Nominations were closed.  The vote was unanimous.

 

B.       Project Vision

 

Committee members reviewed the Project Vision, as shown in attached Exhibit B.

 

Reports:  Grant Funding-sources; Architect-drawings; Property Assessment-plan

 

Grant Update:  $4,000 awarded by the South Windsor Community Foundation; re-apply to the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation

 

Ms. Lipe, Director of Planning explained that the Town received a grant for Land Trust in the amount of $30,000 but did not have matching funds to support this grant.  The Town will re-apply for the grant.  Another grant that the Town will apply for is a $50,000 grant through the Connecticut Trust.  The Main Street Subcommittee who has been working under the Planning & Zoning Commission will apply for that grant.

 

Answering various questions, Ms. Lipe explained that the Town could request a smaller grant so that the Town would have a smaller amount to match.  Mr. Paterna stated that the South Windsor Community Foundation has donated $4,000 of matching funds.  Mr. Paterna added that he has tried to find grant funding and went to every Foundation in the area.  The answer that was given was that they loved the project but want the Town to come back when there is a facility to build or a program to run.

 

The State did not want to be involved in the feasibility study which will cost approximately $20,000.  Mayor Anwar felt that the Town has great staff and questioned if the Town would have the capacity to do the study in-house?  Ms. Lipe answered that the expertise that this grant was going to get the Town were things like structural analysis and specialties in the environmental area for those kind of things the Town does not have that type of expertise, but from the sight planning perspective and the engineering, the Town has the staff.  If the public is going to have access to the building there are handicap accessibility issues that will need to be addressed.  Mr. Favreau added that if there is a historical significance there may be the ability to seek other type of grants. 

 

Mr. Shepard stated that the Committee will have to decide what the building will be used for.  Mr. Paterna explained that originally some ideas of what the building could be used for where office space, working kitchen, an art studio, meeting room, small classroom space and a learning center.  There may be a need to consider taking down some of the walls to create larger spaces.  Ms. Lipe added that there may be a need for an addition.  Mr. Shepard suggested that some type of active farming be done on the property but not to an extent that would put farmers out of business.

 

A mission statement, vision statement, sight assessment and business plan will need to be established for the Priest Property.  Mr. Paterna explained that conceptual architectural drawings will be done by Rick from Lawrence Associates.

 

C.       Setting a Date for a group visit to Northewest Park in Windsor

 

Committee members discussed the value in visiting other similar projects (non-profit farms) in other Towns in order to get different ideas for the Priest Property.  The Committee will visit Northwest Park in Windsor on Friday, July 18, 2014 and tour the Priest Farm right after touring Northwest Park.  The Committee will meet at the Community Center at 7:30 a.m. that morning.

 

Ms. Lipe explained that the Town of Windsor began purchasing pieces of land for Northwest Park about 7 years ago and that it is operated through the Parks & Recreation budget on an annual basis.  There is approximately 400 acres and they will be adding more land.  They have a nature center, performance arts, cross country skiing, picnic pavilion and a tobacco museum.  The house on the property is occupied by a caretaker on sight.  They also have soccer fields and those types of things.  It was suggested that South Windsor also check out Simsbury Community Farm.

 

Mr. Shepard stated that there are 3 or 4 farms in Connecticut that are a non-profit and it would be worthwhile to visit those farms.

 

Committee members discussed other areas that could be visited.  Mr. Paterna and Mr. Folger will work together to come up with a list of standard questions that could be asked when visiting different locations.  Committee members also discussed different ideas for the Priest Property.

 

6.      Schedule Future Meeting Dates

 

Committee members agreed that the Committee would meet on the second Wednesday of every month.  The next meeting is scheduled for August 13, 2014 at 5:30 p.m. in the Madden Room.

 

7.      Other Business

 

Committee members reviewed utility connections, as shown in attached Exhibit C, and D.  The property is presently on a well and has a septic tank.  The current well is very shallow.  If you are within 200 feet of a water line the Public Health Code requires that the property be hooked up unless there is a compelling reason why it could not be.  This is something that could be reviewed.  There is a working septic system on the property presently.  Ms. Lipe will look into options for the well and septic.

 

Mr. Folger suggested that the Committee appoint a volunteer coordinator.  Councilor Snyder made a suggestion of a volunteer bank that could be established where volunteers could sign up and donate their time when their expertise is needed.  Committee members decided that this could be discussed at the next meeting.

 

Mr. Paterna addressed the access to the property.  He questioned if the red light that comes off of Ellington Road onto Sullivan Avenue as a potential access.  Mr. Folger stated he would map the wetlands to see if there would be any issues with this concept.

 

7.      Adjournment

 

The meeting adjourned at 6:36 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

___________________________

Deborah W. Reid

Council Clerk