CHARLESTOWN OPEN SPACE COMMISSION
(Draft) MINUTES: January 21, 2004
Commission Members Attending Meeting:
Andy
Motel, Chair x, William Andersen x, Alexandra Coleman_, Aliena Gerhard x, Mary Ellen Joos x, Bob Jones x, Kevin Kuhn x, Rosemary Philips _, Bob Roggio _, Marcia Solda _, Sue Staas x .
Minutes from November 2003 were accepted. There was no OS meeting in December.
Reorganization:
Same officers Ð Andy Motel, Sue Staas Secy, Bob Jones Vice Chair.
We
will need a newsletter editor
pending Aliena's upcoming move.
McDevitt
Property Ð Feb 11.
7:30
Ð joint Supervisors/Planning meeting to address Devault Town Center and
McDevitt Property Development.
Horseshoe
Trail Report. Sue Staas reported that on February 17,
the Charlestown H-S Trail Subcommittee will host a meeting between Mike Pavelek
of the HST Association and Jake Michaels of the Chester County Planning
Commission with representatives from Chester County Townships that adjoin the
Horse-Shoe Trail. The purpose will
be to share information and strategies for preserving the Trail's route through
Chester County. As one of the few
cross-state destination trails, the HST has a special place as a connector
between local trails.
Meeting was
adjourned at 8:45 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Staas
Secretary
CHARLESTOWN OPEN SPACE COMMISSION
(Draft) MINUTES: February 18, 2004
Commission Members Attending Meeting:
Andy
Motel, Chair x, William Andersen x, Alexandra Coleman x, Aliena Gerhard x, Mary Ellen Joos x, Bob Jones _,
Kevin Kuhn x,
Rosemary Philips x,
Bob Roggio x, Marcia
Solda x, Sue Staas x .
Minutes: Acceptance was waived until the March
meeting because Sue had not downloaded them from the laptop!
Discussion:
In light of the fact that Aliena will be moving to Vermont in the
summer, the committee discussed the need for adding a member to the OS
Commission. Commission
members were directed to consider the issue, which will be on the agenda in
March.
Goals for 2004 were outlined and
responsibilities assigned:
1. Need to prioritize properties and assign
each to a pair of OS folk.
Andy will review the list and assignments
from 2003 and discuss at the April meeting.
2. Newsletter: Articles:
All
Commission members are
responsible for articles. Deadline
for next issue has not been set.
3. Discover Charlestown Tour:
Rosemarie
Philips agreed to
organize a tour for this spring.
Date will probably be in late April or early May.
4. Financial Planning; Liability Law &
Estate Taxes
Commission
agreed that the Commission must begin a campaign to educate landholders about
these factors. Bob Roggio &
Andy Motel agreed to take the lead.
5. Program: Sustainable Farming to preserve land
Efforts
to educate landholders to the advantages of Sustainable Farming will be headed
by Bill Anderson
6. Research Property Ð Anderson & Philips
7. Horse-shoe Trail Goals
The
Horse-Shoe Trail subcommittee presented its tentative goals for 2004 to the OS
Commission. Goals will be
finalized at the April meeting. Sue
Staas and Bob Jones will take responsibility.
Horse-Shoe
Trail Subcommittee Report: Sue reported that the regional meeting
re preserving the Horse-Shoe Trail took place as scheduled on February 17. About 50 people attended: 5 landowners; representatives from 8
townships; 2 land trusts; 12 HST members; some equestrians; and numerous
representatives of other trail clubs.
Minutes will be forthcoming.
Meeting was
adjourned at 8:45 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Staas
CHARLESTOWN OPEN SPACE COMMISSION
(Draft)
MINUTES: March 17, 2004
Commission Members Attending Meeting:
Andy Motel, Chair x, William Andersen x, Alexandra Coleman_, Aliena Gerhard _, Mary Ellen Joos _, Bob Jones x, Kevin Kuhn x, Rosemary
Philips x, Bob Roggio _, Marcia
Solda _, Sue Staas x .
Minutes from January and February were accepted with corrections:
Reorganization: Same officers: Andy Motel, Chair, Sue Staas Secy, Bob Jones Vice Chair, Bob Roggio, Treasurer. Bob's name was inadvertently omitted in the January minutes.
Program in May:
Andy Motel will arrange for a program targeted to large landowners to cover Landowner Liability and easements. Program will be held in place of May OS meeting.
A Follow-up packet of relevant materials will be prepared for interested residents (large landowners).
Open Space is
great: How is it used!
Horse Farm
Sustainable Agriculture
Parks
Community Agriculture
Historical Preservation
Riparian buffers / ground water recharge
Golf course
Longwood School
Tour will probably be scheduled for the fall, this year.
Bill Anderson will check dates that will be good for a tour of the Community Agriculture farm on Charlestown Road.
Announcements:
Solda Property will be concluded in a month.
Resolution from Commission
requesting that Charlestown
Supervisors write letter to Chester County Commissioners supporting Growing Greener II. Kevin agreed to take this resolution to the supervisors.
Agenda items for April
meeting: Additional members for
the OS Commission:
1. Rosemarie and Sue reiterated that we need additional commission members to replace those we have lost - or will be losing. At April meeting, it is proposed that we discuss the issue of new members.
¤ identify the skills we need on the commission,
¤ identify possible candidates,
¤ consider advertising on the website for interested parties to visit a meeting and interview for a position on the commission.
2. HST subcommittee will request that OS commission allow them to seek legal advice re whether mention of HST on the Seibert deed is significant - something to pursue, etc.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Staas
CHARLESTOWN OPEN SPACE COMMISSION
(Draft) MINUTES: April 21, 2004
Bob Roggio and
Andy Motel will decide whether Estate Planning Program will be scheduled for
the May 19 or the June 16 Meeting.
Decision needs to go to Aliena for the Newsletter by Monday, April
26.
Commission Members Attending Meeting:
Andy
Motel, Chair _, William Andersen _, Alexandra Coleman x, Aliena Gerhard x, Mary Ellen Joos x, Bob Jones x,
Kevin Kuhn _, Rosemary Philips x,
Bob Roggio x, Marcia
Solda x, Sue Staas x .
Minutes
need to be accepted at the next meeting
Learning
from Easements for Solda: The Solda easement acquisition is still
under negotiation because of the question of public access. The county will be examining the path
that has been suggested by the Supervisors.
¤ Need to learn from SoldaÕs
experience.
¤ Question about strings to easements
sponsored by County money such as type of Path, liability insurance.
Newsletter: Aliena needs articles by Monday, April
26!
Articles:
¤ Article about Brightside - (not sure who is responsible)
¤ Article about Sustainable farming from Bill Andersen is already in hand.
¤ Need
RUA letter -This will not be ready in time! - but is so important!!. Sue
is working on it.
¤ Article about Jenkins Property ÐKevin
¤ Program about Estate Planning - Bob Roggio
¤ Saving Valley Forge - (someone is forwarding an article that has been written)
¤ SUGGESTION: From Sue, after the fact: I think it is very important that this Newsletter reiterate the mission and goals of the Open Space Commission, which I will append to these minutes.
.
Additional Members for commission:
Members decided to advertise in the newsletter and on the website for new members. Interest in open space, willingness to attend meetings and to work for several hours per month are important criteria for selection to the Commission.
¤ Aliena will put notice in Newsletter
¤ Sue will post notice on the Charlestown website.
Motion: Rosemary moved, Bob R. seconded
The
Open Space Commission would like to ask the supervisors the following
questions:
¤ Please explain what development
limitations there are on Brightside.
¤ Are there any conservation easements
on Brightside?
¤ If not what are the townshipÕs plans
for obtaining conservation easements.
Motion
passed, with one objection.
At
the last meeting, there was a Resolution: Supervisors will write letter to Chester County
Commissioners supporting Growing Greener II.
¤ Did the Supervisors send the letter?
Agenda
for next business meeting:
1. Discuss Property Priority List (See
attached)
2. Trails feasibility Study
3. Recommend to supervisors that they
adopt a zoning ordinance for trails similar to East PikelandÕs zoning
ordinance.
4. Recommend that supervisors put Trails
on the official map.
Meeting was
adjourned at 8:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Staas
Mission and
Goals of Open Space Commission: From our First Annual Report: (Bolding is mine)
By ordinance
adopted unanimously on May 7, 2001 the Board of Supervisors established the
Open Space Commission as an advisory board for the purpose of focusing township efforts on the importance
of preserving open space in Charlestown. The BOS
specifically directed the OS Commission to:
1. Develop criteria for prioritizing open
space parcels to be preserved such as view sheds, watersheds, trails, farmland,
old growth trees.
2. Educate township residents about the
advantages of open space and the methods available to preserve it
3. Identify and provide assistance to
landowners in the Township who wish to pursue conservation objectives in their
long and short term plans;
4. Estimate the amount of money required to
preserve land identified as meeting township priorities for open space
5. Serve as liaison with conservation and
historic preservation organizations and promote the services they offer
6. Work with the Parks and Recreation
Department to better manage and improve existing open space areas and trails
CRITERIA FOR
PREFERRED PROPERTIES
1) Commission reviewed the procedures and
guidelines for the OSC involvement in easement deals/negotiations:
A) Paramount is that the land for which we
negotiate easements fill the criteria of land that we have determined ie:
¤ in heritage zones (see comprehensive
plan)
¤ Proximity to other eased land
¤ View sheds,
¤ Current Use
¤ Watersheds
¤ Woodlands
¤ Meets criteria for grants (grantable)
¤ Vulnerability to development
¤ Willingness of the owners to consider
easement and to go through the process.
B) The land must receive a certified
appraisal Ð ratified by county and supervisors - to determine value of
easement.
C) Andy pointed out that land easement
projects do not lend themselves to rigid application of a set of rules. These are guidelines, whose purpose is
to establish parameters and give some help to us as we struggle with
prioritizing projects.
Andy urged other
members of the OSC to join him and Kevin in developing projects.
PROPERTIES UNDER DISCUSSION
September
2003
McDevitt
Burgoon
Jenkins (community park)
Fisher
CHARLESTOWN OPEN SPACE COMMISSION
(Draft)
MINUTES: May 19, 2004
Commission Members Attending Meeting:
Andy Motel, Chair x, William Andersen x, Alexandra Coleman x, Aliena Gerhard _, Bob Jones _, Kevin Kuhn x, Rosemary
Philips x, Bob Roggio _, Marcia Solda _, Sue Staas x .
Minutes from March and April were accepted.
Alix will ask John Hoekstra for particulars and documentation This area of concern, though legitimate, is not part of our Open Space Mission which is to advise the BOS and to directly educate landowners on the virtues, economics and mechanics of Open Space preservation and coordinate with Parks and Recreation in our efforts
Preliminary.
Properties will be selected by a subcommittee, which will be appointed by the supervisors.
Skills needed and Interests in doing some or all of the following:
¤
¤ Willtalk to property owners to help them to decide if easements are appropriate to their needs. OR
¤
¤ Will put together two newsletters per year and
¤ Will organize exhibits for Charlestown events and
¤ Will
organize a Charlestown Open Space Day/Tour
We will advertise for new members in the next edition of the OS Newsletter.
Books, handouts from Open Space Commission Need to get literature off web, make copies and have available
Late September: Charlestown Day/Tour
Rosemary will organize this with help from the OS Commission
Bill Andersen's Community Agriculture Farm will be featured.
Brightside Farm Easements:
In response to the request from the Commission to discuss preservation of Brightside Farm from development, Kevin reported the following:
¤ The part of Brightside that was financed with County grant money is preserved for open space and public access.
¤ Balance of acreage is not presently eased. Members of OS Commission urged Supervisors to place easements on this acreage.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Staas
Second Annual
Committee for Discover Charlestown Tour July 26, 2004
Next meeting: 10:00 AM, Wednesday, August 25 at the
Township Office
We will lay out
our route & itinerary for the day.
Tour is scheduled
for Sunday, September 26, 1:30 to 4:30 PM.
Present: Jean Helker (Historic Society), Rosemary Philips (Open Space & Historic Commission), Suzanne Riley (Parks and Rec), Sue Staas (Open Space & HST). Absent: Alix Coleman (Open Space & Brightside).
Focus of the day will be on Uses of Open Space in Charlestown Township.
1.
The theme of day will be the importance of Open Space
and how Open Space and the way it is used enhance living in Charlestown.
¤ Instead
of touring the entire township, the tour will focus on 6 stops and will include
a trail walk for those who so choose.
2.
Tentative Route & Stops:
a. Begin & end at Brightside: Hosts - Alix & Jacob Merriwether
b. Next stop if possible, Solda Farm: Hosts Marcia & Andy or Kevin
c. Nature Center: NC Staff & TBA
d. Charlestown CSA: Host - Bill Andersen
e. Mill: Host - Paul Hogan
f. Pickering Creek Trail - Guides: Marge Crawford, Suzanne, Sue, others TBA.
g. Return to Brightside for refreshments and socializing.
h. Estimated Time for bus riders: 2 hours. For those who do the trail, 2.5 to 3 hours.
3.
Hosts:
¤ Hosts at each of the sites and on the buses will include representatives from either the Open Space Commission or Planning Commission, Parks & Recreation, Brightside, Trails, Historical Commission.
¤ Supervisors will be invited, especially, to be present at the end of the tour at Brightside to mingle, and answer questions.
¤ Hosts
from last year will be asked first for this year.
¤ We
will also need volunteers to set up, register, etc., etc.
4.
Amenities:
¤ There
will be a Portapot at the Mill. Unless
Suzanne volunteers to do it, Sue Staas will coordinate with Paul and will order
the P>P. (this in recognition that she, Sue, will be bound to
use it!). Restroom at Nature
Center will also be available.
¤ Jean
Helker will coordinate the food.
Menu will include Iced Tea, Lemonade & Water, pretzels and
cookies.
5.
Advertising & Registration:
¤ Charlestown
Newsletter will go out in August; and we can piggyback on it.
¤ Rosemary
and Jean will write the copy and get it to Linda.
¤ Registration
form will include a special box to check if taking the hike (maybe indicate how
many will hike??)
¤ Advanced
Registrations will be required.
(If things get out of hand, we can cap it).
¤ Rain
or Shine, we go!
6.
Costs to the Township will be less than $400 - last year
it was $269.
¤ Registration
fees will be $10 for one adult, $15 for two adults and $5 per child.
¤ We
will use School's minibuses as we did last year - cost is the same, $40 per
hour per bus.
¤ Additional
costs will be for printing the flyer and handouts ($200)
¤ The
Portapot - $110 last year
¤ Food
- probably less than the $90 we spent last year because we have pared the menu.
Still to do:
¤ Recruit volunteers We anticipate 6 buses minimum - will need sufficient hosts to mix, mingle (schmooze) and answer questions about open space and the township. We also need crew to register participants, refreshment setup, etc.
¤ Write up the itinerary and notes for the handout ??
¤ Write up a little spiel for the hikers - How about a mini-trail map with points of interest?? Suzanne, does one already exist?
¤ Write up a new evaluation form - ??
¤ Figure out the logistics for the buses and the hikers based on registrations. ??
¤ Finalize Buses (done! Sue)
¤ Confirm K & Solda (Sue will do K August 5, when I return from VT).
CHARLESTOWN OPEN SPACE COMMISSION
Commission Members Attending Meeting:
Andy Motel, Chair x, William Andersen x, Alexandra Coleman x, Bob Jones _, Kevin Kuhn x, Rosemary
Philips x, Bob Roggio _, Marcia Solda _, Sue Staas x .
Minutes from May
1. HST Report
OK to expand
committee
2. Kevin presented overview of Stonorov conservation plan.
3. Tour Day Report
4. Open Space Reorganization
¤ Preserve Open Space
¤ Create elevated awareness of importance of OS in Charlestown
¤ Importance of Education (repetition) to the effort
¤ Communication with other townships
5. Quarterly meetings
¤ Email circulation
¤ Subcommittees
6. Program
¤ National Lands
¤ Newsletter
¤ Easement Dinner
¤ Tours
7. Subcommittees
¤ Program
¤ Publication
¤ Easement
¤ HST
8. Bring potential candidates to meeting to see what you think
¤ Circulate resumes ahead of time