Open Space Commission - Minutes 06/05/01

• The map of properties distributed by Ed at our meeting - and mailed to those who did not attend the meeting.
• The annotated list of properties (corrected copies to be mailed to all commission membrs).
• The list of priorities for selecting properties for open space found on page 2 of these minutes.
  

1. To provide an organization that will serve the needs of Charlestown Township in the preservation, conservation and stewardship of open space;
2. To assist the Supervisors in decisions regarding open space planning and acquisition;
3. To actively educate the residents and property owners of Charlestown to the benefits of open space preservation;
4. To identify and provide assistance to landowners in the Township who wish to pursue conservation objectives in their long and short term plans;
5. To establish an inventory of properties which are available for open space preservation through the purchase of development rights, donation, outright purchase or other means;
6. To serve as liaison to conservation and historic preservation organizations and promote the services they offer, such as the French and Pickering Trust, Natural Lands Trust, Brandywine Conservancy and others;
7. To work with the Parks and Recreation Department to better manage and improve existing open space areas and trails.
   

• Countywide mapping
• Review of what municipalities are doing
• Recommendations (but only recommendations, not directives) for municipalities
• Key topic of this document is a plan for protection of an open space network in Chester County. The emphasis is on linkages to preserve a network of contiguous open space throughout the County.
• There will be emphasis on the Quality as well as the linkage of open spaces.
• Some will become Recreational networks - bio-diversity corridors and networks, trails, etc.
  

1. They begin with the broadest possible definition: Open space is anything that is not paved or built on.
2. The broad definition is divided into two focii: whether the open space is protected or unprotected. Because unprotected open space is disappearing at such an incredible rate in Chester County, they focus on the protected open space which is defined as:
• Property that is rigorously protected by agreements monitored by land trusts
• Agricultural easements admin by the Agricultural Lands preservation Board
• Municipal parks, county parks, state game lands, etc., are seen as open space, because very unlikely that it will be sold.
• Homeowners Assoc. open space is viewed as protected - since it is usually built on sensitive areas, there is double protection.
• Deed restrictions are not counted because they are simply are not enforced enough.
• Schools are not protected open space, because they can be developed in the future.
3. Protected space may be open to public or private.
   • Private open space is seen as advantageous, because maintenance is in the hands of the private owner, not the municipality. It is OK to spend public $$ for private easements
   • Public Open Space can be defined as recreational or non-recreational open space. It is important to define what is active or passive use up front to avoid user conflicts with the neighbors. (All public space, by definition, is open to the public, but it is not required to provide trails, etc. Example is State Game Lands.) There is a need for standard, regional definitions of active and passive use of open space. While individuals and communities agree with the general concept that "open space" is good, there are many differing vieews on what uses are appropriate or should be permitted. Jake Michael encouraged the Open Space Commission to labor on a definition of "Open Space" because that may help to highlight differences and encourage early resolution. The counting "Linking Landscapes" plan will contain a definition/criteria for Open Space, but this information will not be available until later this year.
   • Some municipalities are acquiring open space for simply open space (usually flood plain or view shed)
     

1. Bonds, dedicated taxes
2. Chester County grants (most are 50% matching grants)
• Preservation partnership program
• Planning Grants
• Parks Department
• Parkland acquisition grants - 50% - 60% if multi-municipality grant
• Park facilities grants - capital projects
• Trails grants - recreational trails
• Greenways grant - wildlife corridor - linear open space
• Sources of Information about Chester County Funds:
•    Planning Department - Bill Gladden
•    Parks Grants - Applications are standard
3. DCNR grants - www.dcnr.state.pa.gov - (St. Dep't of Conservation & Natural Resources) (also 50% matching)
   
   • C2P2 grants
   • Partially funded by Growing Greener funds
   • Sue Staas attended an informative workshop for municipalities and non-profit organizations about the DCNR funding process. Her notes will be available for reference.
4. PA Heritage Park funds - not for municipalities - usually regional around a major river such as the Schuylkill or Delaware.
5. DEP grants ( St. Dep't of Environmental Protection) (50% matching)
   • Watershed grants
   • Implementation grants
6. Maintenance is a significant issue for municipal open space
7. Local Land Trusts are being organized to monitor easements that more established trusts do not want to handle.
   

• Be sure you work on the basis of Data
• Include the community in the planning
• We need to raise matching funds - it takes money to get money
• A Good, recent comprehensive plan is important
• We should Coordinate with French Creek Trust - Natural Land Trusts - Brandywine Trust
• We should consider hiring a professional grant writer. Grant acquisition will usually take a year from proposal to approval. Implementation and oversight plans may require additional time before the grant money is available.

• It was determined that either Wednesday or Thursday evenings were preferable for meetings.
• Members present selected the third Wednesday of the month as the official meeting time for the Open Space Commission - Time will be 7:30, place will be the Choral Room in the Great Valley Middle School, unless otherwise communicated.
• NB: If many of those who were absent have unresolvable conflicts with this selection of dates, the schedule can be revisited at the July meeting. Attendance at the meetings is very important!
  

• Like the Chester County Planning Commission, Charlestown's Open Space Commission members struggled with our Township Definition, and were unable to reach a resolution.
• Consideration of a definition was tabled for up to six months until we can consider incorporating the final definition from Chester County's Linking Landscapes Plan, and until we become more knowledgeable about the issues involved.
  

• Ed Theurkaupf presented a map of the larger properties (from 10 acres to 25+ acres) in Charlestown. These properties are identified as protected or unprotected.
• Accompanying the map was a list of the properties, with addresses, owners names, propery size, etc. (NB: A corrected list will be sent to all commission members. A copy of the map will be sent to those who did not attend the meeting.)
  

• Property is most vulnerable to be developed
• Property will contribute to linking protected open space properties
• Trails
• Property has important Environmental qualities
• Streams protection
• Habitat protection
• Mature Woodlands
• Groundwater Recharge
• There is a Viewshed
• Property has Historic Value
• Property is Agricultural
  

1. Introduction of any Commission members who have not attended a meeting
   
2. Minutes: Corrections, acceptance
   
3. Speaker - Members present on June 28, agreed that it would be helpful to hear from a representative of one of the Land Trusts. Andy will pursue this.
   
4. Reports from Committee members/subcommittees
   
5. By-laws: Discussion, amendments, acceptance (The draft By-laws were emailed to Commission Members on June 29, 2001).
   
6. VI. Elections: Officers of Open Space Commission
   The following officers will be nominated from the floor and elected at the July meeting. Commission members who are interested in serving in any of these positions are invited to contact Andy, who is Chair Pro Tem.
   Following is a description of officers and their responsibilities, copied from the by-laws.
   ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS
   SECTION 1:
   The officers of the Open Space Commission shall consist of a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Financial Secretary.
   SECTION 2:
   The Chair shall preside at all meetings and hearings of the Open Space Commission and shall have the duties normally conferred by the parliamentary usage on such officers. SECTION 3:
   The Vice Chair shall act for the Chair in his/her absence or in the event of a conflict of interest as referenced in Article IX. SECTION 4:
   The Secretary shall keep the Minutes and records of the Open Space Commission and shall make a copy of the minutes from all meetings of the Open Space Commission available to the Board of Supervisors by providing same to the Township Secretary. The Secretary shall also prepare the Agenda of the regular and special meetings under the direction of the Chair, provide notice of special meetings to members, attend to general correspondence of the Open Space Commission and such other duties as are normally carried out by a Secretary. Minutes shall be prepared for distribution within ten (10) days after a meeting. SECTION 5:
   The Financial Secretary shall be responsible for monitoring the Open Space Commission's annual budget and shall report to the Open Space Commission and to the Board of Supervisors from time to time as is necessary.
   
7. Discuss our Goals and Timelines
   
8. IX. Wrap up - proposed agenda for August Meeting.