Allenstown Conservation Commission
Date: January 14, 2004
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Allenstown Town Hall
MINUTES
Attendees
Phil Trowbridge, Commissioner
Laura Bonk, Commissioner
David McKay, Commissioner
The meeting was called to order at 7:10 pm.
Note: Action Items in bold are to be completed by the next ConCom meeting.
The minutes were approved without amendments.
The hike was advertised with fliers posted at Allenstown Town Hall, Biwise, Family Dollar, and with the Pembroke ConCom. A short advertisement will run 1/14/04 and 1/21/04 in the Concord Monitor and 1/15/04 and 1/22/04 in the Hooksett Banner. Dave McKay prepared a map of the hike and confirmed the attendance of Eric Orff from NHF&G. So far, seven people have RSVP’ed for the hike. On the day of the hike, we will park at the gate at the end of Dodge Road. Dave McKay will give a winter tree identification talk. P. Trowbridge will bring an emergency gear bag and a camera.
P. Trowbridge will go to NHF&G to get wildlife materials for the table. L. Bonk will make copies of the Natural Resources Chapter of the Master Plan, will make a large sign out of poster board, and will bring a sign up sheet for the table.
The 2004 ConCom Annual report will serve as the recruitment flier.
The Complex Systems Research Center at UNH requested that the ConCom confirm the information they had about Town-owned parcels under conservation easement. The only parcel meeting this description is the Allenstown Town Forest. The ConCom checked the information provided by UNH and returned the information to UNH without changes. However, the ConCom noted that there are several other large tracts of land that are owned by the Town that probably should be placed under conservation easement. These tracts are: Map 406/Lot 13&14 (106 acres), Map 402/Lot 15&16 (14 acres), and Map 402/Lot 109.1 (16 acres).
L. Bonk handed out a draft of the BBSP Illegal Activities Survey report. Comments are due by 1/24/04 with the intention to mail it by 1/27/04, if DRED is able to make the maps on time.
L. Bonk spoke with Chief McGonigle about the project. The Chief supports the plan to make this land a public park and did not foresee a problem with parking being on the opposite side of the road. The overall cost of the parcel (Map 110/Lot 1, 1.2 acres) will be less than $25,500 which is its current assessed value. Once the DOT takes the driveway from this parcel for the bridge, its value will be less. The Route 3 bridge design issue is on the agenda for 2/2/04 Board of Selectmen meeting and the 2/4/04 Planning Board meeting. After having these meetings, L. Bonk will write to DOT asking for Allenstown to be involved with the negotiations with the owners of the parcel (Osgood). It should also be noted that the ConCom would prefer that any parking spaces created by this project be gravel so as to not create any more impervious surfaces along the banks of the river.
A secondary issue is access to the proposed parking area. L. Bonk spoke with Jim Boisvert (Town Road Agent). He was unaware of any official right of way to the Town-owned building beside the river (the "Allenstown Gate House"), which is used for storage. The deed for the parcel (Map 110/Lot 3) grants right of way to many parties, but the deed is complicated and needs to be reviewed by an attorney to verify the Town’s existing rights. L. Bonk will send this deed to DOT along with her letter.
This agenda item was deferred to the next meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 pm.