Mansfield PZC mulls zoning reg changes

File photo © 2009 by Brenda Sullivan.

The planning and zoning com­mission is currently looking a number of zoning regulation changes that include revisions for historic districts and the Four Corners area.

The revisions would include new criteria for both the Four Corners area around the intersection of routes 44 and 195 and the town’s 10 historic dis­tricts.

During a public hearing May 16, Mansfield Planning Director Gregory Padick said the Four Corners zoning criteria would provide “a little more direction in a planning/design context.”

The planning and zoning commission closed its public hearing, which addressed seven sets of revi­sions and could approve or alter the changes next month.

He said the regulatory review committee also worked with the Four Corners sewer and water advi­sory committee and the regulations can be revised again when sewer and water systems are installed.

The advisory committee is currently looking at potential sewer and water systems to boost economic development around the Route 44/195 intersection.

The regulation revisions note the intersection is a “historically important crossroads area” in town, but has “deteriorated over the past few decades” because of insufficient public sewer and water systems.

The design criteria would require any develop­ments in the Four Corners area – which is a Planned Business 3 zone – to include bikeways/walkways, street trees and other enhancements to encourage pedestrian traffic and use of public transportation.

The criteria would also promote smaller-scale building designs and require national chains to have building plans and materials “that reflect Mansfield’s architectural traditions.”

Zoning revisions pertaining to historic districts would also look to ensure new buildings and improve­ments “fit the individual characteristics of their par­ticular site and neighborhood.”

Under the new criteria, setbacks and building heights for any new construction or improvements would need to be consistent with the distances and heights of the current neighborhood.

Other zoning regulation revisions would include general architectural and design standards for the town, which would also include a requirement for national chains to modify building plans to fit the town.

Padick said the stipulation currently does not exist in Mansfield’s zoning regulations.

Other regulations addressed by the revisions include notification requirements, recreational and pedestrian facility improvements, lighting require­ments and setbacks for outdoor recreation facilities.

Posted 5-23-2011

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Windham, Mansfield, Coventry and Sterling students to participate in Bioblitz Tuesday

A total of 145 middle school students from Windham, Mansfield, Coventry and Sterling will participate in as “Bioblitz” on Tuesday (May 24).

Sponsored by EastConn, the regional education-service pro­vider, and Joshua’s Trust, the award-winning land conservation organization, the program will give the students the opportu­nity to examine the biodiversity to be found at the Allanach-Wolf Woodlands, a trust property in Windham.

Under the guidance of natural­ists and university level scientists, the students will look for and identify birds, vertebrates, plants, insects and other organisms found at pond, stream and soil “sta­tions.”

They will report their finds to Bioblitz Central where a master list and photographic record will be compiled.

The program is designed to fos­ter student interest in careers in the natural sciences, and an appre­ciation of the biodiversity of the local environment and the need to protect its many ecosystems.

The Allanach-Wolf Woodlands is located at 165-8 Back Road in Windham.

For more information, go to joshuaslandtrust.org, or call (860) 429-9023.

Posted 5-23-2011

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Mansfield is ready to acquire Penner property

The town is now moving forward to acquire a property for open space after it was not purchased at a tax sale last month.

Tax Collector Christine Gamache said a property owned by the estate of Lawrence J. Penner, Jr. is now in the “redemption period” before the town can officially own it.

The town council in March approved acquiring the 3.9-acre property as open space if it was not purchased at the tax sale, which was held on April 13.

Town Manager Matt Hart told the town council on May 9 the Penner property was one of 12 properties referred for sale, and the town received payments on eight of those.

The remaining four went to the tax sale, and the Penner property was the only one not sold on April 13, allowing the town to move for­ward to acquire the site.

Hart said the town collected $197,000 in tax revenues prior to the April 13 sale and another $73,000 from the sale itself.

State laws prevent the town from actually purchasing property at a tax sale, and Gamache said the town still needs to put the property through a six-month redemption period.

During that time, anyone with a claim to the property can still purchase it by paying all of the back taxes owed on the property and other applicable costs, such as attorney’s fees.

“Between now and then, the town cannot do anything with it,” Gamache said.

If no one comes forward to acquire the site by mid-October, the town can then acquire the site at the same cost.

In memos to the council and planning and zoning commission in February, town staff said the current owners of the property, with an assessed value of $10,220, have not paid taxes to the town for 10 years and currently owe $3,240 in taxes.

Gamache said she has not been able to contact Penner’s estate and said she believes the current own­ers live out of state.

The land – which is located in between Jonathan Lane and White Oak and Fieldstone drives – con­tains a portion of an Atlantic White Cedar swamp, and the council said it wanted to protect wildlife on the site.

Posted 5-23-2011

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Mansfield farmers want looser agriculture regulations

With the planning and zoning commission looking at revisions to its regula­tions on agriculture, some agricul­tural supporters said the proposed changes do not go far enough.

The PZC will now need to deter­mine how to handle the comments it received during a public hearing Monday (May 16) when it meets again on June 6, town Planning Director Gregory Padick said.

He said the PZC has been look­ing to update the town’s regula­tions in ways that support smaller farms because the current regula­tions are out of date.

“The (agriculture) regulations had not been looked at compre­hensively in 25 years,” Padick said.

The PZC did look at proposed revisions a few years ago but received a number of concerns at the time, and the commission waited for its regulatory review committee to alter the revisions.

The current draft revisions state their purpose is to “preserve existing agriculture uses, encour­age new agriculture uses and to maintain and promote a healthy and sustainable environment” in Mansfield.

Farmers and others in agricul­ture agreed Monday that changes are needed, but said they did not think the proposed revisions go far enough to support small farms.

The revisions mainly address owners who have animals on properties, and farmers would be “permitted by right” to have a cer­tain number of animals on their properties if they meet certain criteria.

Those who own at least five acres of land would be able to own a limited number of animals, as long as any manure piles, stables and other related features are at least 100 feet from neighboring property lines and 75 feet from any wells.

Any wetlands on the property would not count towards the five­ acre requirement.

The revisions also include guidelines on how many animals a person could own per 40,000 square feet of property meeting the regulations, with limits such as one large animal, five medium sized animal, or 16 small poultry. Residents would also be allowed to have small farm stands without needing to apply for a permit, while 4-H, FFA and other stu­dent agricultural projects are also permitted by right if a qualified school instructor or project man­ager approved plans.

But Al Cyr, chairman of the agricultural committee, and other farmers said the regulations did not go far enough to promote smaller farms.

They said setback requirements can be restrictive for properties that are long and narrow, some­times leaving the farmers with no place to set stables, barns and manure piles.

They said many farmers are finding better ways to avoid nui­sances for neighbors, especially as smaller farms are becoming more common.

Posted 5-23-2011

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