Article on Haddam/Nature Conservacy Land Puchase on RT 151..

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http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13120390&BRD=1645&PAG=461&dept_id=33198&rfi=6

Interesting that the First Selectman of Haddam thinks that the land should be open to hunting, some discussion in here as far as what IS 'passive' use. Here's some copy from what a Nature Conservancy nut (I mean spokesman) had to say about this:

John Matthiessen, spokesman for the Nature Conservancy, said although hunting isn’t considered passive use, the Nature Conservancy doesn’t have an ironclad rule of what the use of the preserves it acquires will be.

The use depends on what the community wants, safest use, conservation practice and the prior use of the land.

"In general, passive recreation is the most compatible to protect the land," Matthiessen said. "The first thing we do is not provide recreational opportunities to people but one of the benefits of protecting land is all these preserves people can walk on and enjoy."

So there's a lot of talk about trails getting closed elsewhere in New England- this one is right (literally) in our backyard.

 

[toyworx]

So there's a lot of talk about trails getting closed elsewhere in New England- this one is right (literally) in our backyard.

This was never open to the public in the first place, so i wouldn't consider it a closure.

 

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So there's a lot of talk about trails getting closed elsewhere in New England- this one is right (literally) in our backyard.

This was never open to the public in the first place, so i wouldn't consider it a closure.

It's still The Nature Cons eating up land near us- I was more focused on the what they define as land use and the fact that a municipality was quick to work with them rather than opening up the land for public (recreational) use to the taxpayers that are going to be footing the bill.

 

[beaker]

Quote:
"The first thing we do is not provide recreational opportunities to people but one of the benefits of protecting land is all these preserves people can walk on and enjoy."

Huh? No one can use it but people can enjoy it? Idiot's

 

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Quote:
"The first thing we do is not provide recreational opportunities to people but one of the benefits of protecting land is all these preserves people can walk on and enjoy."

Huh? No one can use it but people can enjoy it? Idiot's

That's their policy and that's why they are a problem- not just for us, but for all outdoor recreational enthusiasts- including hunters.

 

[jon]

Quote:
"The first thing we do is not provide recreational opportunities to people but one of the benefits of protecting land is all these preserves people can walk on and enjoy."

Huh? No one can use it but people can enjoy it? Idiot's

private land dude. They can do whatever they please with it.

 

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Town of Haddam is footing 1/2 the bill in this case.

 

[jon]

oh I didn't catch that part.

 

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Had a town meeting last night concerning this, lots of pissed off taxpayers!

http://www.middletownpress.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13190216&BRD=1645&PAG=461&dept_id=10856&rfi=6

 

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More (very) upset taxpayers:

http://www.middletownpress.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13330543&BRD=1645&PAG=461&dept_id=10856&rfi=6

"Residents were upset by not so much the results of the mid-October vote, but by the meeting process and the agreement reached with the conservancy, including the appraisals. "

"The agreement will allow walking, bird watching, photography, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, nature education and catch-and-fly release fishing, which are passive use activities, on the property. Some residents wanted more, including hunting, to be allowed."

"We are asking to have a new town meeting where we can openly speak," Czaja Jr. said. "We absolutely want the right to be able to tell the townspeople what’s going on and we want a referendum with a voting machine."

"Czaja said that he was denied the right to speak at the mid-October Town Meeting. After a number of people questioned the appraisal during the comment period of the hearing, a motion was quickly made and passed to close the question period. Calls from residents of "no way" and "railroaded" followed. "

Read more...

http://www.middletownpress.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13330543&BRD=1645&PAG=461&dept_id=10856&rfi=6

 

[toyworx]

It was passed "in a 162 to 19 vote"....

Walt is just up to is old antics again. Walt has been a problem in town for years. I grew up in haddam, and can tell you first hand that he is a pain in the ass with nothing better to do than stir the pot. You've got a very small handfull of people who are making a bigger issue out of this than necessary.

The alternative was that the Johnsons were going to put 60 houses on it instead. Personally, i'd rather see it going the way it is.