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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