Housatonic Valley Regional Plan of Conservation and Development

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9-1. INTRODUCTION

This section of the Plan provides a regional perspective on the preservation of open space, farmland, and the development of recreation.

Regional planning for open space and recreation has evolved over the past decade, with more digital map geographic information system "GIS" technical support, focused political support, planning for regional greenways, regional trails and regional river trails.

Excerpt from the 1999 Ridgefield Town Plan, identifying
existing public and private open space areas in light green and,
importantly, "desirable open space" areas in green cross hatch.

While many people perceive open space to be any land that is not built upon, such a definition includes private land subject to development and is thus not accurate. Such perceived open space is not preserved open space.

Rather, preserved open space is defined as publicly controlled land that is preserved or restricted to park, recreation, or conservation use.

Aside from its role as the setting for numerous forms of recreation, open space achieves other goals on the local and regional level. Consider that such land contributes to the environmental health of watersheds by providing extended areas for recharge of groundwater and filtering of surface water runoff.

And like wetlands, open space can reduce flooding severity by providing a holding area for flood water. Wildlife habitat is also enhanced through open space acquisition, especially when open areas are linked to create wildlife corridors.

Preserving open space areas, particularly forests, will also contribute to worldwide efforts to combat global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

According to the Trust for Public Land there are real tax benefits associated with retaining open space. In simple terms, there are few public expenditures compared to a single family residential subdivision on the same site.

And residential property lucky enough to be adjacent to open space benefits from the provision of a neighborhood buffer and visual relief from nearby development, adding to value. Open space also provides an economic return by providing opportunities for outdoor recreational suppliers and ecotourism industries.

As for a definition of recreation, the following passage from the 2002 Danbury Plan of Conservation and Development states it well:

"Recreation consists of any leisurely pursued experience or activity engaged in solely for the pleasure of doing it.

Active recreation includes sports, exercise, or active play at facilities that include, among others, playgrounds, playing fields and courts, beaches, pools, multi purpose play areas, and golf courses.

Passive recreation is defined as relaxation activities such as hiking, nature watching and picnicking.

Whether active or passive, recreation is, above all, more than relaxation and diversion from work. It re-creates the individual."

Photo courtesy of Rick Gottschalk

View from New Fairfield east towards Brookfield over
Candlewood Lake, the largest lake in Connecticut.

9-2. MUNICIPAL INVENTORY
OF OPEN SPACE ASSETS

It is recommended that municipalities inventory their public and private undeveloped lands to determine preservation and purchase priorities.

To note a good example, in 2002- 2003 the City of Danbury collaborated with the Land Trust of Danbury and the Danbury Conservation Commission to secure a grant to conduct such an inventory. An excerpt from the resulting map showing northwest Danbury is below:

Excerpt from Danbury's 2004
Natural Resource and Open Space Analysis

The grant funded a model for ranking the values of undeveloped lands, based upon criteria such as size of property, proximity to other open space areas, accessibility, natural resource features, and threat of future development.

The computer model then ranked the lands into categories of high, medium and low for protection, preservation or acquisition and mapped the locations of each.

9-3. THE GREENWAY CONCEPT

Greenways are corridors of open space that are preserved by deeded conservation easements or public acquisitions with development restrictions. Greenways often link key habitats along their corridors and are frequently linked to keystone natural resources.

These corridors are typically traversed by trails dedicated to passive recreation and environmental education. Greenways are thus functional bridges between open space and passive recreation.

Creating new greenways in the region involves the following elements:

• Planning – identifying the tracts of property that are needed to preserve corridor environmental and ecological features, connectivity of resources and properties, and public access.

• Acquisition – execution of agreements with property owners for acquiring access and preservation easements or outright transfer of ownership to municipal or state governments.

• Conservation Construction – clearing trails, constructing river crossings, creating environmental restoration demonstration projects, installing environmental education signs etc.

Examples of regional greenway initiatives in the Housatonic Region include the Ives Trail Greenway (Ridgefield, Danbury and Bethel), and the Still River Branch of the Housatonic Valley River Trail (Danbury, Brookfield and New Milford).

Excerpt from the 2003 New Fairfield Plan of Conservation
and Development's Open Space and Greenway Plan.

The double red line identifies the proposed "Central Axis Greenway"
along Short Woods Brook. The red cross hatch identifies
Margerie Reservoir, where a greenway to Danbury is planned.
The double black line identifies the proposed Eastern/Western
Greenway thru the schools complex. They all meet at the Town Center.

The 2005-2010 Conservation and Development Policies Plan for Connecticut includes a list of 35 state designated greenways, some of which remain conceptual. State agencies and others are to take note of these corridors in their plans and facilitate their development.

The list is entitled "Connecticut Greenways Council Officially Designated Greenways 2001 - 2003" and is accompanied by a statewide map. The following greenways in the Housatonic Valley Region are included:

-- Housatonic Riverbelt Greenway
-- Still River Greenway
-- Newtown Greenway System

There is funding available to subsidize greenway planning through DEP’s recreational trails and open space acquisition grant program.

9-4. DEP'S GREEN PLAN GUIDES
OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION

It is important to note that according to DEP's "Green Plan for Guiding Land Acquisition and Protection in Connecticut 2007-2012", the overall state goal is "to continue to acquire and protect land to satisfy a variety of needs as expressed in Connecticut General Statutes 23-8(b) and in various State plans... and to support local and regional plans (italics added), where available."

The DEP Green Plan goes on to define the several criteria for prioritizing open space grant applications. One of these is "locational concerns," stating that:

"The relative location of a property to be acquired or protected is also important.
For example, a property might merit special consideration if it is adjacent to or near existing protected open space; provides a buffer for a high value ecological area on protected open space; is an addition to existing protected open space that will create greenways or improved access to existing state parks, forests or wildlife management areas; or can connect two or more ecologically valuable areas to provide wildlife corridors."

Then under "general evaluation considerations" for state purchase of open space, it is further stated that "the proximity to urban areas or public transportation is an important consideration for the Department in our pursuit of environmental equity."

Grant applications to DEP from area municipalities are advised to remind that agency of the way in which statewide open space acquisition policy was organized on a regional basis some years ago:

In DEP’s 1987-1992 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), land preservation needs were assessed on a planning region by planning region basis.

In what was a daring move for a statewide document, the 1987 - 1992 SCORP concluded that “A consideration of all the foregoing factors have made acquisition of public open space in the Housatonic Valley Planning Region this SCORP’s highest priority among all of the state’s planning regions.”

Unfortunately, that high priority geographic focus was soon diluted in subsequent SCORP’s. Yet there has been little change to the data base dynamics that led to the earlier statewide priority for the Housatonic Valley.

Thus the earlier DEP view retains validity as a selection factor for state assisted open space purchases in the Housatonic Valley Planning Region.

9-5. TEMPORARY OPEN SPACE
THRU USE OF PUBLIC ACT 490

In the 1960's it became apparent that Connecticut was rapidly losing open land to development due to the disproportionate tax burden for retaining it "as is." This was certainly true here in the Housatonic Valley Planning Region, where the population that decade grew by a stunning 56%.


In response, in 1963 the Connecticut General Assembly passed what is commonly referred to as Public Act 490. This relieved the pressure, due to property tax carrying cost, on conversion of farm, forest and open space lands to more intensive uses.

Good land suitable for home sites,
yet taxed at a low level as agricultural use.

Codified today as Section 12-107 of the CT General Statutes, the 490 law states that it is in the public interest to encourage the preservation of farm land, forest land and open space by slowing economic pressures for the conversion of such lands to more intensive uses.

The statute provides for the valuation of qualifying land based on its current use. Thus when land is classified as farm, forest or open space its assessment is based on use value, rather than on its open market value for housing or other uses.

Use value assessments are lower than those based upon fair market values. The owners of such land receive preferential and significant, but legal, property tax relief.

As the goal is long term preservation, a conveyance tax penalty is applied if the classification is changed within ten years of the initial classification date. The status is discontinued if the land use or ownership changes, but can be reinstituted once a local assessor certifies continued agricultural use.

Forest land is usually required to be 25 acres or more with a forest land designation by the Forestry Division of CT DEP. The state sets no minimum lot size requirement for the program for farmland.

Open space is a category where towns often set standards, such as a parcel being "more than two times the minimum lot size for the zone" or "ten acres above the minimum lot size."

Note that Connecticut is not unique with this arrangement, as every state in the nation has a use value assessment law for farm, forest and open space. This HVCEO Plan urges that this opportunity be fully utilized.

9-6. SECURING PUBLIC LAND DURING
THE TRADITIONAL SUBDIVISION PROCESS

As authorized by state statute, a small percentage of vacant land in a residential subdivision may be reserved as open space by municipal regulation. The list below illustrates the open space set-aside percentage for subdivisions in each of the ten Housatonic Valley Region municipalities:

Bethel 10%
Bridgewater 15%
Brookfield 15%

Danbury 5% to 20%
New Fairfield 20%
New Milford 15%
Newtown 15%

Redding 10%
Ridgefield 10%
Sherman 15%

BETHEL: Bethel's subdivision regulations state that the 10% open space set aside is a
maximum (in other words, up to 10% may be required).

--- According to the 2007 Bethel Plan of Conservation and Development, "Some communities require as much as 20 percent of subdivided lands be dedicated as open space. Bethel should consider revising the subdivision regulations to require that at least 15 percent of any subdivided parcel be dedicated as open space during the subdivision process, or an equivalent fee in lieu be provided, limited to 10% of the land value by State Statutes."

BRIDGEWATER: Bridgewater’s subdivision regulations state that the Town may require that 15% of the land in a subdivision be set aside for open space, park or playground uses.

BROOKFIELD: Section 234-702 of Brookfield’s subdivision regulations state that no more than 15% of the total area in a subdivision may be required for an open space set aside; however, if a set-aside is required for a particular subdivision, the area set aside must be a minimum of 40,000 square feet in size.

DANBURY: The City of Danbury has a sliding scale for open space set asides in its subdivision regulations, which are dependent upon the underlying zone and the size of the subject subdivision. For subdivisions in the RA-20 zone that have a total area of at least 5 acres, 20% of the total area is required for an open space set aside.

For subdivisions in Danbury's RA-40 zone that have a total area of at least 10 acres, 10% of the total area is required for an open space set aside. For subdivisions in the RA-80 zone that have a total area of at least 20 acres, 5% of the total area is required for an open space set aside.

NEW FAIRFIELD: New Fairfield has the largest open-space set aside requirement in the region, requiring a minimum of 20% of a subdivision be set aside for open space.

NEW MILFORD: New Milford requires that at least 15% of the total subdivision area be set aside; however, this regulation is not mandatory unless the entire area of the subdivision is greater than 2.1 times the size of the minimum lot size of the underlying zone.

NEWTOWN: Newtown requires a minimum of 15% of total subdivision area set aside for open space.

REDDING, RIDGEFIELD AND SHERMAN: The subdivision regulations in both Redding and Ridgefield state that a maximum of 10% of total subdivision area may be required for an open space set aside, while the Town of Sherman mandates that if an open space set-aside is required, it shall be 15% of the total subdivision area.

In the case of Ridgefield, the 10% requirement only applies if the subdivision in question does not fall under the conservation subdivision regulations contained within the Town’s Planned Residential Development (PRD) zone regulations.

In addition, eight of the ten municipalities in the Region have payment in lieu of open space regulations in their respective subdivision regulations. Only the Town of Redding and the City of Danbury do not have such regulations.

The goal is for the municipality to obtain land of open space and recreational value, not exclusively "left over" wetland or unbuildable "waste" land.

9-7. SECURING PUBLIC LAND BY USE
OF "CONSERVATION" SUBDIVISIONS

These specialized subdivisions are a means for a town to secure significant amounts of protected open space, at no direct cost to the town. Five of the ten communities in the Region have conservation subdivision regulations: Bethel, Brookfield, New Milford, Newtown and Ridgefield.

BETHEL: The Town of Bethel permits conservation subdivisions via its Design Conservation District (DCD) overlay zone:

This overlay zone may only be used in the R-10 or RR-10 zoning districts, and only applied to sites of at least 5 acres in size. Single family residential, as well as multifamily residential of up to four units per acre, are permitted uses. Developers may receive a density bonus of up to 50% of the total dwelling units initially allowed if 20% or more of the total dwelling units are designated as affordable housing.

If a developer does not want to actually construct the affordable units, he or she may make a payment of $80,000 per unit not constructed to the Town. The DCD regulations also require that 35% of the total site area be designated as open space.

The 2007 Bethel Plan of Conservation and Development promotes the conservation subdivision concept, labeling it "conservation residential development" or CRD:

To encourage the use of CRD's, the Commission might consider CRD's as of right and require a special permit for conventional subdivisions in the R-40 and R-80 zones for areas larger than 20 acres.

By adopting density standards for CRD and applying them to the buildable land within a CRD, a development yield approximating a conventional subdivision can be easily determined without the added expense of additional soil testing and preliminary subdivision designs.

The increased development flexibility, reduced infrastructure costs and streamlined approval process would make CRD's the preferred development option.

BROOKFIELD:The Town of Brookfield permits conservation subdivisions in its R-40, R-60, R-80 and R-100 residential zones:

The permitted uses in Brookfield's conservation subdivisions are the same as those allowed in the underlying zoning district. The number of permissible single family residential lots in a specific conservation subdivision is determined by dividing the total site area by the minimum required lot size for the underlying zone.

The actual lot sizes in the conservation subdivision may be a minimum of 20,000 square feet regardless of the underlying zone. Any land not used for development purposes must be designated as permanent open space.

NEW MILFORD: New Milford enables the development of conservation subdivisions through its Cluster Conservation Subdivision District (CCSD):

These conservation subdivisions may be developed in the R-40, R-60 and R-80 residential zones, and must be at least 30 acres in area. They are designed for single family detached homes, and at least 50% of the total site area must be conserved as open space.

The number of lots allowed cannot exceed the number of lots that would be allowed under a standard subdivision. However, if at least 70% of the total site area is conserved as open space, the developer may receive a 10% density bonus in the number of units allowed.

The developer is allowed to submit regulations for the subdivision regarding minimum lot size, yard requirements, maximum building height, and other dimensional requirements.

NEWTOWN: Newtown utilizes its Open Space Conservation Subdivision (OSCS) regulations to permit conservation subdivisions:

Newtown's conservation subdivisions are allowed by Special Exception, must be situated in an R-1, R-2 or R-3 residential zone, and must either be at least 20 acres in size or have 8 or more potential building lots.

Subdivisions with less than 20 acres of area may apply to be conservation subdivisions if the potential land to be conserved as open space is located adjacent to existing preserved open space or will protect significant or unique natural features. A general guideline is given that at least 50% of the total subdivision area should be preserved as open space.

The individual lot sizes in conservation subdivisions are determined based upon a sliding scale that correlates lot coverage with lot size. The minimum lot size allowed is equal to 10 times the area of proposed lot coverage. For example, if the proposed lot coverage for each lot will be 2,000 square feet, the minimum lot size must be 20,000 square feet.

According to Newtown's 2003 Analysis of Open Space Conservation Subdivisions, the open space conservation subdivision is a tool used by municipalities to manage the subdivision of land for residential development in a manner that results in more effective conservation of the natural environment and the preservation of a town’s community character.

The analysis report notes that Newtown’s conventional subdivision process usually secures about 10+% of the land area being subdivided as open space. By contrast, an open space conservation subdivision typically results in the preservation of at least 50% of the subdivision as protected open space.

Fundamentally, open space conservation subdivisions enable a property to be developed for housing at the same gross density as is permitted under existing municipal zoning.

Note also that according to the 2003 Newtown research, wastewater disposal concerns for open space conservation subdivisions and multi-family housing complexes have been largely resolved.

Preserved green space over
the community septic leaching field
at Newtown's Riverview Condominium

RIDGEFIELD: Ridgefield provides for conservation subdivisions through its Planned Residential Development (PRD) zone.

Ridgefield's PRDs are allowed by Special Permit and may be utilized in R-AA and R-AAA residential zones on sites that are at least 6 acres in size. Within PRD zones, both conventional and conservation subdivisions are permitted.

In R-AAA zones, up to 0.30 to 0.33 dwelling units per acre are allowed, while up to 0.45 to 0.50 dwelling units per acre are allowed in the R-AA zone, dependent upon whether or not new subdivision roads are provided or needed. These density figures may rise as high as 0.67 dwelling units per acre and 0.80 dwelling units per acre in the R-AAA and R-AA zones, respectively, if the subdivision is a conservation subdivision and meets certain other criteria.

There is no minimum individual residential lot size for the conservation subdivision, and a minimum of 65% of the total subdivision area must be designated as open space.

GRANBY MODEL: A model community for our towns to emulate is Granby, Connecticut, where conservation subdivision practices have been notably successful. As noted in 2008 by Granby's Director of Community Development Francis Armentano:

While I try to think regionally, as a municipal planner, I can only act locally. To that end, and through creative cluster/conservation subdivision, here in Granby we have preserved an orchard, preserved significant acreage for farming (land is now mostly provided to dairy farmers to grow silage) and created some fabulous hiking trails.

We have also avoided forest fragmentation, preserved significant wildlife habitat, greatly reduced the length of roads and more, all while creating some wonderful housing. Granby has preserved over 600 acres through cluster subdivision. And to the benefit of not just the town, but to the region.

9-8. OPEN SPACE SET ASIDES IN ZONING

A number of specific zoning districts and zoning regulations in the Housatonic Valley Region towns require the setting aside of areas for open space:

BETHEL: In Bethel, for cluster developments in the RR-10 two-family residential zone and for sites in the Planned Residential Development (PRD) zoning districts, 35% of the total site area is required to be open space.

DANBURY: The City of Danbury has a number of miscellaneous requirements for open space setasides as part of its zoning regulations. For cluster developments in the RA-20, RA-40 and RA-80 residential zones, up to 50% of site area may be used for residential lots and all remaining areas must be designated as permanent open space. For cluster developments in the RMF-10 multifamily residential zone, at least 40% of the area of each site must be kept as open space.

In the Planned Neighborhood Development (PND) District, 33% of total site area must be dedicated as common recreational facilities and open space. In the Campus Research Park (CRP) zone, 30% of each site must be designated as common open space.

Finally, the zoning regulations also have various requirements for usable open space per dwelling unit; the figure most commonly used is 500 square feet of usable open space per dwelling unit.

NEW FAIRFIELD: In New Fairfield, the Multifamily District for the Elderly (MFDE) zone regulations require that 100 square feet of outdoor recreation area be provided for every studio/efficiency and one-bedroom unit constructed, and 200 square feet for every two bedroom unit constructed.

NEW MILFORD: New Milford’s Major Planned Residential Development District (MPRDD) zone regulations require that 60% of each site must be designated as open space. The Town’s Planned Residential Development (PRD) zone regulations also require that all areas of a site not utilized for dwellings, parking, roadways or private yards shall be dedicated open space.

NEWTOWN: Newtown’s Affordable Housing Development (AHD) zone regulations require that each site developed under this zone designation have 30% of its area as open space.

REDDING: In Redding, the development of a Special Residential Complex, permitted under the zoning regulations within either the Village Residential (RV) zone or the Neighborhood Business (NB) zone, requires that 65% of the site remain as open space.

RIDGEFIELD: In Ridgefield, the Town’s Housing Opportunity Development (HOD) overlay zone requires that at least 60% of each site be designated as open space.

SHERMAN: In the Town of Sherman, the development of a golf course facility comes with the requirement that 35% of the site be retained as open space, with 5% of the total area dedicated as public open space areas.

9-9. PRESERVING FARMLAND

The Housatonic Valley Region still retains some tracts of native farmland, especially at the northern end.

The Town of Suffield, CT is offered as a model municipality for the preservation of farmland. It has a very successful "purchase of development rights" program for this purpose.

Development rights purchased are priced at from 40% to more than 60% of the fair market value of the land, and as of 2008 there is a waiting list of participants to have their development rights purchased.

Part of Suffield's success is due to flexibility with respect to future expansion of agricultural activities and allowing an additional house for future family growth.

Preserved farmland: Blue Jay Orchards in Bethel

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture offers a farmland preservation program. The nicely preserved and highly productive Blue Jay Orchards property in Bethel is a good example of the success of this state program.

9-10. SECURING PUBLIC LANDS THRU
INLAND WETLAND PERMIT CONDITIONS

In the process of reviewing, evaluating and issuing permits for development proposals, inland wetland commissions may deny, approve or approve applications with stipulations.

The stipulations on permits may include the requirement for a deed recorded conservation easement that permanently preserves the environmentally sensitive portions of the site.

Depending upon specific regulations and bylaws, commissions may also consider stipulating acquisitions or easements on properties off site of the development parcel.

9-11. USE OPTION TO ABATE TAXES ON OPEN SPACE IN EXCHANGE FOR TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS

State Statute 12-129r has authorized this option as of 2006. The municipality may establish a program under which property taxes may be abated in exchange for the transfer to the municipality of development rights, conservation easements, etc.

Also, the abatement may not exceed the market value of the open space land, and may be transferable to any other taxable property in the municipality owned by the applicant.

Danbury has adopted an ordinance under this state statute as Code of Ordinances Section 18-29, applicable after October 1, 2008, and allowing for a ten year abatement. Other municipalities in the area may wish to follow suit.

9-12. OPEN SPACE RECOMMENDATIONS

Preserve ample open space and develop recreational opportunities for the Region's future population.

1. The Housatonic Council's top regional open space preservation priority is the state purchase of a conservation restriction from Northeast Utilities for Vaughn's Neck in Candlewood Lake.

Pristine Vaughn's Neck in Candlewood Lake

The Vaughn’s Neck and adjacent Candlewood Mountain area comprises 710 acres in New Fairfield and New Milford and is the largest contiguous track of Northeast Utilities property on Candlewood Lake, itself the largest lake in Connecticut.

If the property were to be developed, the recreational and aesthetic quality of Candlewood Lake would be greatly reduced, affecting property values as well as the enjoyment of thousands throughout the Region and beyond.

Also, water quality of one of Connecticut’s premier inland water resources could be impaired. Important wildlife habit would be threatened, as well as one of Connecticut’s important fisheries.

Additional regional open space preservation priorities include:

PRESERVE TERRE HAUTE. Complete the process of protecting this attractive wild and scenic area along the Danbury and Bethel border.

COMPLETE THE RIDGEFIELD - DANBURY - BETHEL IVES TRAIL. Proceed with the the purchase of privately owned properties (or purchase of conservation / public access agreements) that will link the public open space properties along the Ives Trail.

COMPLETE THE DANBURY - BROOKFIELD - NEW MILFORD STILL RIVER GREENWAY AND HOUSATONIC VALLEY RIVER TRAIL. This priority is for the purchase of privately owned properties (or purchase of conservation / public access agreements) that will link public open space properties in Danbury, Brookfield and New Milford to create the regional Still River Greenway.

2. Provide adequate open space in built up areas by providing for small public greens and pocket parks, enhancing existing public greens, and promoting street tree programs.

Elegant and award winning
Elmwood Park in Downtown Danbury
Photo courtesy of Didona Associates

3. All municipalities should make available the option of fees in lieu of open space (FILO) in traditional residential subdivisions, as authorized by State Statute Chapter 126 Section 8-25b.

Such funds received from developers are available for surveys, appraisals and conservation easements, as well as for the more traditional purchase of development rights or full public purchase.

4. Support the use of open space conservation subdivision regulations, which allow a greater percentage of land to be preserved for open space. In doing so use make use of Newtown's leading research on this technique.

5. Include farmland preservation in open space planning efforts, to retain the region's history of agriculture as well as to provide local produce and educational opportunities.

6. There are two regional recreation features for which HVCEO will provide direct management assistance: 1 ) HVCEO will provide permanent web site hosting for the Housatonic Valley River Trail. 2) HVCEO will provide permanent web site hosting for the Ives Trail Greenway.

7. HVCEO will maintain a web based inventory of open space and conservation organizations in the region to promote them and to facilitate their interaction.

8. Promote the acquisition of open space land through the DEP Open Space Grant Program. HVCEO staff will provide an individualized letter of support to each applicant.

The Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust preserve
on the Thomas Peardon Farm in Bridgewater
has spectacular views

9. Promote temporary open land protection through tax assessment abatement programs (Public Act 490).

10. Consider viewshed protection, based on examples such as the zoning methodology for protecting viewsheds in Kent, CT or as found in the Woodbury, CT subdivision regulations.

11. Encourage municipalities to create an inventory of conservation easements already existing in their municipality and then map them, thereby enhancing coordinated open space and greenway planning.

12. HVCEO's GIS mapping services will be made available for a) local land preservation efforts, and b) CT DEP's emerging Statewide Trails Database by providing digital input of this area's trails.

13. As noted above, grant applicants to DEP are advised to remind that agency of the way in which statewide open space acquisition policy was organized on a regional basis some years ago:

In DEP’s 1987-1992 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), land preservation needs were assessed on a planning region by planning region basis.

The SCORP concluded that “a consideration of all the foregoing factors have made acquisition of public open space in the Housatonic Valley Planning Region this SCORP’s highest priority among all of the state’s planning regions.”

The Housatonic Region provides access to the
Connecticut segment of the Appalachian Trail
from Route 55 in Sherman, CT

 

The creative contributions of
consultant Jack Kozuchowski to this section
of the Regional Plan are gratefully acknowledged.