New Hartford Land Trust in the news - 2005
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NHLT’s Annual Meeting,
January 23, 2005:
Senator Andrew Roraback's
Preservation Proposal
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Gift Preserves 41 Acres of Open Space -
Board President Donates Development
Rights
(read Hartford Courant article here)
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The New Hartford Land Trust held its annual meeting
on Sunday, January 23, 2005. The featured speaker,
Senator Andrew Roraback, of Goshen, discussed his
plan to protect thousands of acres of farmland and
open space from development.
Senator Roraback is proposing legislation that will
include $100 million per year for ten years to
conserve land around the state. Because Connecticut
is losing farmland at a faster rate (about 8,000 acres
per year) than any other state in the country, critical
action is needed now. The proposed legislation
would allow towns and the state to preserve key
parcels of land that are significant for their natural
resources, wildlife corridors, scenic beauty, and/or
agricultural potential.
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Land Trust Board President Ron Eigenbrod has taken
steps to ensure that a 41-acre wooded parcel with
some wetlands that he owns between West Hill Road
and Johnnycake Lane will never be subdivided or built
upon. By donating the development rights through a
conservation easement to be held by the New
Hartford Land Trust, Eigenbrod will continue to own
the land but gives up the possibility of future
development in return for a federal tax break that
allows property owners to deduct a portion of that
development value on their income taxes.
In 1991, the town approved 18 potential building lots
on this parcel. The developers who owned it did not
move ahead with the subdivision and Eigenbrod later
bought it after foreclosure. The Land Trust board
voted to accept the donation at their December
meeting subject to a site walk and attorney review.
“I urge other landowners to consider similar
donations,” said Eigenbrod. “There are substantial tax
benefits either through a gift to the Land Trust or
through the sale of development rights to the town.
For many landowners who want to preserve their
property and either retain ownership or not, this might
be a viable alternative to selling to developers.”
For more information about conservation easements,
please visit the Land Trust web site at www.
newhartfordlandtrust.org or contact the Open Space
Preservation Commission through Town Hall or at
newhartfordopenspace@charter.net
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Land Trust Creates Riverwalk
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Partnerships for Preservation:
The Roles of Public and Private
Groups
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New Hartford residents can now take a lovely, short
stroll along a trail by the Farmington River in town
center thanks to the cooperative efforts of Land Trust
board members and volunteers, an aspiring Eagle
Scout, and town leaders and staff. Generous
donations to the Land Trust by the Beekley and Heath
families as well as a $6,300 grant from the
Farmington River Coordinating Committee made the
new ‘Riverwalk’ possible.
In 1993, Fenno Heath and the late Mason Beekley
approached the Land Trust about holding the one
and one-half acres where the Riverwalk is located
until the Town of New Hartford might want to create a
park on the site. The Land Trust accepted and began
annual clean-up efforts on this former Heath family
parcel where two old houses had been demolished.
Land Trust board member Tom Klebart accepted the
assignment to steward this land donation and, two
years ago, talked with town officials about the
potential for a town park on the property. The Land
Trust then formed a Riverwalk Committee that
included town representatives to move the project
ahead. The group decided that the Land Trust would
keep the property and create a trail to tie in with the
town’s planned riverside walk.
Klebart’s son, George, in order to earn his Eagle
Scout badge, enlisted Boy Scout Troop 19 to help
make the land accessible to community members.
Land Trust board members also pitched in to clean
up the site. After removing lots of garbage, downed
trees, and excessive undergrowth, some selective
tree cutting was done and the Town works
department dug up the base for the new trail.
Riverside Nursery donated flowering shrubs to plant
at the site and Hoffmann Hardware gave materials.
Using a rented Bobcat and equipment lent by Land
Trust leaders, Troop 19 completed the first portion of
the walk in June and the Land Trust finished laying
down processed gravel on the rest of the trail in
September. The trail is now ready for visitors.
There are two entrances to the property just off Main
Street in downtown New Hartford: across from the
New Hartford Post Office or behind Town Hall on the
left (northwest) side of the parking lot. You may visit
anytime during daylight hours. The Land Trust is now
seeking donations to place named benches along
the trail. To find out more, call Ron Eigenbrod at 738-
4136.
The wonderful generosity, vision and community
spirit of the Heath and Beekley families made the
new Riverwalk possible. Many thanks to the many
individuals, town representatives, organizations, and
businesses that contributed time, talent, funding and
materials to help transform the site into an asset for
all New Hartford residents. Last summer, the Land
Trust sponsored a free jazz concert at the site and will
bring back the Eric Mintel Quartet for a repeat
performance on Sunday, August 7, 2005. Mark your
calendars!
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Have you ever wondered what the difference is
between the New Hartford Land Trust and the
Town’s Open Space Preservation Commission?
At times, there is confusion over the distinction
between the two. This confusion is to be expected,
as the mission of both groups is virtually identical: to
permanently preserve land in its natural state.
Indeed, the two groups will try to work cooperatively to
conserve as much of New Hartford’s natural beauty
and resources as possible.
There are important differences, however, between
the two groups. The Land Trust is a private, not-for-
profit organization founded in 1975 and managed by
its members. It stewards about 20 parcels, totaling
more than 300 acres of permanently preserved land
in New Hartford.
The Open Space Preservation Commission, on the
other hand, is an advisory branch of local
government, and its members are appointed by the
Selectmen. In June, 2004, New Hartford residents
voted to authorize the town to spend up to $1.5
million on open space preservation. The Open
Space Preservation Commission may recommend
parcels of land to preserve, each of which must be
approved by the Selectmen, Board of Finance,
Planning and Zoning, and the majority of voters at a
Town Meeting before funds are expended.
Whenever possible, the Land Trust will forge
partnerships with other conservation groups to
preserve land. Possible partners include the Open
Space Preservation Commission, the Trust for Public
Land, the Highlands Coalition, the Farmington River
Watershed Association, the Metropolitan District
Commission, the State of Connecticut and the
federal government.
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Land Trust volunteers stewarding the Regents Park
parcel.
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Earth Day Cleanup
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Eager Land Trust volunteers George Klebart, Scott
Hinman and a friend work along the Farmington
River. (Photo courtesy Winsted Journal)
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On Saturday, April 17, 2004, the New Hartford Land
Trust organized the Earth Day Spring Cleanup in
downtown New Hartford and at Brodie Park. The
weather was beautiful and spirits were high as about
100 townspeople of all ages turned out to spruce up
the Land Trust’s Riverwalk Park and several other
areas in need of attention.
We would like to thank the following local businesses
for their tremendous generosity: Hoffman Hardware
donated work gloves and a variety of tools, Passiflora
and New Hartford Dunkin’ Donuts donated
refreshments, Chatterley’s surprised us with a
delicious tray of sandwiches for the volunteers, and
New Hartford Wine and Beverage saved us with a
much-needed supply of bottled water!
We could not have pulled off this event without our
amazing co-sponsors, who helped publicize it and
mobilize the cleanup brigade: The New Hartford
Women’s Club, Cub Scout Pack 19, New Hartford Girl
Scouts, New Hartford Conservation Commission,
New Hartford Volunteer Fire Department Ladies’
Auxiliary, and the Town of New Hartford. Most of all,
thanks to all the dedicated volunteers who donated
their time, energy and enthusiasm!
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