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TOWN OF GRANBY
AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION MEETING
MINUTES
November 10, 2010
PRESENT: Michelle Niedermeyer, Chairman; Kate Bogli, Steven Hayes, Stanley Hayes,
Lanie Neumann, Don Butler, Ann Wilhelm
GUESTS: Francis Armentano, John & Erin Pirro, Bob Brockett
Ms. Niedermeyer confirmed a quorum and began the meeting at 7:00 p.m.
APPROVE MINUTES:
ON A MOTION BY Michelle Niedermeyer, seconded by Lanie Neumann, the Commission voted
(6-0-0) to approve the minutes of October 13, 2010 as written.
OLD BUSINESS
- Don Butler inquired about the status of the Sandwich Board.
LAND USE REGULATIONS
- Michelle Niedermeyer reminded the AC that the purpose of tonight’s meeting was to get an inventory of potential land; focus on those parcels this year and expand on it next year.
- Using his personal computer, guest speaker, Francis Armentano, accessed Open Space land owned by the Town of Granby. The information was shown live as Mr. Armentano navigated through the GIS system.
- Steven Hayes brought a list of identifiable plots.
- Only plots five acres or greater were considered.
- Steven Hayes read aloud the addresses in query. Francis Armentano searched the database, brought up said plot and discussed with the AC the plot’s potential or lack thereof.
- Reasons for dismissing a plot would range from being wetland, too much slope, no access, etc.
- A handful of parcels that were considered ‘possibly’ for further discussion:--
- 7 Duncaster Wood
- (various identifiable strips of land; could grow hay; soil is good; good access)
- 22 Farmview Lane (30 acres; Town owns good part of this plot; mostly wooded)
- 6 Hampton Village (part of the Duncaster Wood plot—good access)
- 19 Winter Village (flat; good access; wooded; farmland of statewide importance)
- 53 Hungary Road (44 acres; community gardens in one corner already; all acres are primed farmland)
- It was discovered, after viewing each of the plots that the most desirable parcels are already being farmed. This knowledge in itself was a valuable lesson in itself.
- Francis Armentano suggested another time he could help the AC identify farm fields.
- Francis Armentano suggested a useful website: www.crcog.org. CRCOG stands for Capital Region Council of Governments. It’s a valuable website for identifying land attributes, boundaries.
ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION FOR NEXT AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION MEETING:
None
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Farms can add their ‘goings on’ to the website. It’s a great way for farmers to advertise ‘outside’ of Granby.
ADJOURNMENT:
ON A MOTION BY Steven Hayes, seconded by Ms. Neumann, the Commission voted (6-0-0) to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at 7:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia Tappenden
Recording Secretary
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