Town of Groton, Connecticut

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Town of Groton, Connecticut Special Meeting Agenda Office of Planning and Development Services Town Hall Annex 134 Groton Long Point Road Groton, CT 06340 860-446-5970 Wednesday, December 12, 2018

1 Town of Groton, Connecticut Special Meeting Agenda Office of Planning and Development Services Town Hall Annex 134 Groton Long Point Road Groton, CT Wednesday, December 12, :15 PM Town Hall Annex - Community Room 3 I. ROLL CALL I.1. Roll Call II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES II.1. November 5, 2018 III. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS III.1. Public Communications IV. ITEMS OF BUSINESS IV.1. Conservation Plan Update IV.2. Plastic Reduction Study V. REPORT OF CHAIRMAN V.1. Report of Chairman VI. REPORT OF STAFF VI.1. Report of Staff VII. ADJOURNMENT VII.1. Adjournment Next Regular Meeting: January 7, 2019 Town of Groton, Connecticut Page 1 Printed on 12/07/2018

2 Agenda Item To: From: Office of Planning and Development Services Subject: Meeting minutes of November 5, 2018 Background: Recommendation or Commission Action: Attachments: Meeting minutes of November 5, 2018 Page 1 of 1 11/29/2018

3 Town of Groton, Connecticut Meeting Minutes Office of Planning and Development Services 134 Groton Long Point Road Groton, CT Monday, November 05, :15 PM Town Hall Annex - Community Room 3 REGULAR MEETING Chair Chair Brae Rafferty Vice Chair Vice Chair Chad Frost Members Member Jamie Densmore Member Kristin Distante Member Colleen Dollard Member Larry Dunn Member Michele Fitzpatrick I. ROLL CALL I.1 Roll Call Members Present: Rafferty, Fitzpatrick, Distante, Dunn Members Absent: Frost, Dollard Staff Present: Lofgren II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES II.1 October 1, 2018 MOTION: To adopt the minutes of October 1, 2018, as written. Moved by: Fitzpatrick, Michele Seconded by: Distante, Kristin Commission Members YES NO ABSTAIN Brae Rafferty Chad Frost Jamie Densmore Kristin Distante Colleen Dollard Larry Dunn Michele Fitzpatrick APPROVED III. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS III.1 Public Communications Town of Groton, Connecticut Page 1 Printed on 11/29/2018

4 Meeting Minutes Monday, November 05, 2018 Tom Olson noted the November meeting of the Connecticut Association of Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commissions and that he will be in attendance. Mr. Olson also stated that he is a member of GOSA and can help answer questions for the Sheep Farm South agenda item. IV. ITEMS OF BUSINESS IV.1 Conservation Plan Update Fitzpatrick mentioned that she is seeking to find students who may be able to help with GIS analysis for properties. Rafferty suggested that the Commission could select properties and the students could analyze and map each one for wetland to upland ratios, habitat types, and topography. Dunn suggested that the students could then run each property through the economic model in the proposed Conservation Plan Update. The Commission reviewed a map showing town open space, state property, property with a reduced tax assessment, private open space, and all town owned properties. The Commission will continue to compare it to the greenway plan in the POCD and begin to target specific properties. IV.2 OSWLA Grant Sheep Farm South Dunn reports that he did some analysis of the site and used the economic model in the drafted Conservation Plan Update to help formulate a draft report. Dunn passed around the drafted report and a discussion ensued. Tom Olsen, a member of the public and also a GOSA member, described the site and the proposed grant application. Rafferty added history of the property, including past recommendations from the. The Commission made a motion to support the application, recommend that the Town Council endorse the grant application, and to provide the Town Council with the report submitted by Dunn for their consideration moving forward. Moved by: Fitzpatrick, Michele Seconded by: Distante, Kristin Commission Members YES NO ABSTAIN Brae Rafferty Chad Frost Jamie Densmore Kristin Distante Colleen Dollard Larry Dunn Michele Fitzpatrick APPROVED IV.3 Plastic Reduction Study Dunn reported that he spoke with state representatives and regional groups and found similar advice that it is important to receive local support from a wide range or groups. This includes surrounding neighborhood associations, nearby cities and towns, community groups, and Town of Groton, Connecticut Page 2 Printed on 11/29/2018

5 Meeting Minutes Monday, November 05, 2018 regional groups. Dunn also reported that he has been looking into grant services from Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, who may have grants available for outreach and education for plastic reductions. Dunne reported that the grant due dates are December 14, 2018 and January 4, Rafferty reported on several articles he researched. One study was on how the demand for recycled single use plastic bags is declining and therefore finding a repurposed use is increasingly difficult. Rafferty reported that plastic bags have historically been sold to China for processing, but trade tariffs with China have ceased this transaction and other countries lack methods of reuse. Another article reported that the City of Groton is considering requiring stores, who distribute plastic bags, have a plastic bag recycling bin outside the store. Fitzpatrick reported that she had searched the existing town ordinances and had found relatively little reference to plastics or waste. She did report that New York City has required restaurants providing take out service reduce the amount of plastic containers. She stated that this may be something to consider for Groton moving forward. Distante presented a drafted list of survey questions for a Survey Monkey survey that will be displayed on the Town website. A discussion ensued on critiquing the questions and how to approach the survey to receive the highest number of responses. Dunn suggested that a subcommittee be assembled to finalize the questions and a special meeting should be scheduled. A motion to create a subcommittee consisting of Ms. Distante, Ms. Fitzpatrick, and Mr. Dunn and that a special meeting on be held Wednesday, November 14th at 5 p.m. to finalize the questions. Moved by: Dunn, Larry Seconded by: Distante, Kristin Commission Members YES NO ABSTAIN Brae Rafferty Chad Frost Jamie Densmore Kristin Distante Colleen Dollard Larry Dunn Michele Fitzpatrick APPROVED V. REPORT OF CHAIRMAN V.1 Report of Chairman Rafferty mentioned the Connecticut Association of Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commissions annual conference and that he will be in attendance VI. REPORT OF STAFF VI.1 Report of Staff Staff distributed the program for the CACIWC annual meeting in November and stated that Staff will also attend. Town of Groton, Connecticut Page 3 Printed on 11/29/2018

6 Meeting Minutes Monday, November 05, 2018 VI.2 National Estuarine Research Reserve for Connecticut Public Meeting on November 13, 2018 VI.3 Connecticut Federation of Planning and Zoning Agencies Fall 2018 Newsletter VII. ADJOURNMENT VII.1 Adjournment MOTION: To adjourn the meeting at 7:27 PM. Moved by: Fitzpatrick, Michele Seconded by: Dunn, Larry Commission Members YES NO ABSTAIN Brae Rafferty Chad Frost Jamie Densmore Kristin Distante Colleen Dollard Larry Dunn Michele Fitzpatrick ADJOURNED Larry Dunn, Secretary Prepared by Bruce Lofgren Planner I Town of Groton, Connecticut Page 4 Printed on 11/29/2018

7 Agenda Item To: From: Subject: Office of Planning and Development Services Plastic Reduction Study Background: Recommendation or Commission Action: Attachments: Plastic Survey Statement Plastic Survey Draft Page 1 of 1 12/7/2018

8 Town of Groton Plastic Reduction Survey The Town of Groton is considering strategies to reduce/manage the use of single-use disposable plastics (such as straws, bags, takeout containers, cups etc.) Locally, plastic waste can be found on our shorelines, beaches and waterways which harms both the ecosystem and the economy. Globally, plastic waste ends up circulating in the oceans, disrupting ocean life and gradually breaking down into microplastics which work their way into our diets via the food chain. Regionally, across the country, and around the world communities are taking steps to mitigate the plastic problem. Our neighbors in Stonington and Westerly, along with many other communities in southeastern Connecticut are finding solutions and alternative materials to keep plastic out of the environment while still supporting local businesses and economies. Please help us assess our community s readiness for this initiative by taking the following survey: There is ample research on the problem of plastic pollution. For one summary check out this article by Mystic resident Dr. Roger Kuhns (add link)

9 Plastics Survey Draft 5 1. Are you a business owner/manager? Answer yes/no 2. Do you use single use disposable plastics such as cups, straws, plastic bags, or takeout containers? 1 not at all 2 occasionally 3 sometimes 4 frequently 5 always 3. How would you rate your support for reducing single-use disposable plastics? 1 very negative 2 somewhat negative 3 neutral 4 somewhat positive 5 very positive 4. My business will receive pubic goodwill by a reduction in single-use plastics. 1 strongly disagree 2 disagree 3 neither agree nor disagree 4 agree 5 strongly agree 5. Are you personally reducing single use plastics? 1 not doing anything 2 doing a little 3 A moderate effort 4 very much 5 completely committed 6. Would you like to participate with the town in developing a plan to reduce single use plastics 1. No 2 unlikely 3. Neutral 4 somewhat interested 5 yes

TOWN OF WALLINGFORD ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS JUNE 20, 2011 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

Zoning Board of Appeals 1 TOWN OF WALLINGFORD ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS JUNE 20, 2011 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES A regular meeting of the Wallingford Zoning Board of Appeals was held Monday, at 7:00 p.m. in