Mayflower Lane, Paugusset Blue Dot Trail

On TueMay22, I was interviewed by Isabel Senes of the Shelton Weekly regarding this subject for about 45 minutes. This is a summary of the issue for the public, which was held until her story reaches publication to protect her competitive interests with other local news outlets. (frankly I forgot about this draft waiting to be published for some months)

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Mayflower Lane is located off Meadow Street near Shelton High School. It was created in 1997 via a subdivision application known as "Far Hill Estates". The subdivision mechanism used was a PRD or "Planned Residential Development" zone. In such an application, the underlying "as of right" subdivision is shown on a drawing with appropriate open space dedication and infrastructure for drainage, septics, wells, etc. This was R1 zoned land, which in simple summary means 1 acre, 1 lot. A PRD application then takes that underlying subdivision layout, and gives a bonus of more lots (partly by sizing them smaller) for the consideration of more Open Space dedication. It is a mechanism welcomed by the City of Shelton and used by developers in areas where extra open space is desired. The Far Horizon's subdivision was in such an area.

Mayflower Lane is situated on the crest of a ridge that lies in Shelton's Housatonic River Greenway. There are four such Major Greenways in town (Shelton Lakes, Far Mill River, Means Brook and Housatonic River) called out in the City of Shelton Open Space Plan which was last formally revised in 1992. Since that time, Shelton has also recognized several Minor Greenways that serve to link Major Greenways (Long Hill Ave is one such example with apx. 100 acres preserved). The Open Space Plan (a supplemental planning document) is undergoing an update as called for in the Plan of Conservation and Development (a "Master Plan" which was approved in 2006 by the P&Z Commission and endorsed by the BOA) as a task to be completed by the Conservation Commission .

Mayflower Lane's application was approved by the Planning & Zoning Commission with a large area of land (2004 Open Space Map# OS77) dedicated as Public Open Space. One of the express purposes of the Open Space parcel's unique layout and configuration, was to facilitate the reconnection of the Paugussett Trail, part of the blue-dot trail system.

Blue-dot trails are a statewide network of trails that follow ancient or historic footpaths. They are maintained by volunteers with the Connecticut Forest and Parks Association. They can be rugged hiking trails, not the easy walking trails one is accustomed to seeing on other Shelton Open Space. They contain no formalized surface, can traverse rocky ledges or footpath along the edge of a meadow, and are only marked with a small distinct blue blaze (paint mark) as waypoints. There are few if any signs, kiosks and parking areas normally associated with them due to their rustic character. They are utilized by the more adventuresome hiker looking for a challenge with perhaps some rock scrambling, not the usual resident out for a casual stroll or walk. The trail in Shelton does not completely traverse publicly owned "in-fee" land, and at certain locations there is only a pedestrian easement to allow crossing of privately owned land. Thus, the areas that are solely a blue dot trail are pedestrian only, no mountain bikes and obviously like none of the City Open Space, no motorized vehicles.

The City has obtained parcels of land as Public Open Space between the Open Space subdivision dedication on Mayflower Lane and the area of Indian Well State Park. The first parcel acquired was termed "The Overlook" as it was on the rocky bluff along Rte 110 overlooking the Housatonic River and the entrance to Indian Wells State Park. The second parcel acquired was just above the first parcel, so that was referenced as "Above The Overlook". A third parcel was next to the first, so that was referenced as "Aside The Overlook". It should be said that the 2nd and 3rd parcel owners came to the City despite the ability to sell their property to developers because they saw the greater good of what their properties could contribute to a larger assemblage of Public Open Space. The Ct. DEP saw the value of our goals and contributed to our efforts with funds from the Open Space Land Acquisition Grant Program toward the acquisition costs.

In 2006, the Conservation Commission was invited to attend a function at the The Connecticut Forest and Park Association, the oldest private nonprofit environmental organization in Connecticut. The Commissioner of the Ct DEP, Gina McCarthy, spoke on a new initiative being supported by the CFPA: "No Child Left Inside". The idea being that the State parks and Open Spaces that are in our area could and should provide opportunity for children to enjoy the outdoors with the ancillary benefits of exercising, being aware of the environment at an early age, etc. The CFPA maintains the "Blue-dot" trails scattered around the State and was encouraging the hiking component of the DEP initiative. The CFPA was also looking for areas where the existing blue-dot network could be expanded. Naturally all of us on the Conservation Commission thought of our long followed plans to attempt integrating an extension of the Paugussett Trail (a Blue-dot trail) toward the hiking trails in Shelton that are quite extensive in the Shelton Lakes Greenway area, and hopefully on toward Stratford in the future.

Such a desire or plan to expand the Paugussett trail should come as no surprise to the residents of Mayflower Lane whose properties abut the City of Shelton Open Space that was outlined for such a purpose. Letters were sent to the owners in 2002, followed up with a personal visit in one of the homes with numerous residents of the neighborhood. A letter was sent in 2005 to several owners who had constructed sheds and gardens or installed playscapes on the City Open Space property. In 2007 all the owners were contacted to be aware of Trails Commitee volunteers being in the area during coming months to analyze the field aspects of preparing for such a trail. It was this letter that led to quite a bit of misunderstandings between the homeowners and what the Conservation Commission was trying to implement from all the plans and efforts prepared and outlined over the past years.

I understand the concerns of the homeowners, and there are compromises that can be made to hopefully accomodate those concerns while still meeting the goals of the trail's expansion. The consideration of the issue is ongoing with no actions having taken place to date.