Oak Valley Road - Open Space Purchase

Shelton Conservation Commission

Press Release

Purchase of Open Space, Oak Valley Road

29, Aug, 2011

The Shelton Conservation Commission is pleased to announce that the City has acquired another parcel of land in our Shelton Lakes Greenway corridor.

The parcel is 13 acres in size located on Oak Valley Road. It is adjacent to the utility line corridor and centrally situated in the Shelton Lakes Greenway. The purchase price was $190,000. The preservation of the parcel will maintain a continuous corridor for wildlife and passive recreation enjoyment.  The parcel is known as "Great Ledge".

The Conservation Commission conferred with the property owners for several years regarding the public's interest toward the property being preserved and incorporated into the Greenway Corridor. A general understanding was reached, with final terms of purchase negotiated by the Mayor's office.

The Conservation Commission is a purely advisory agency. The terms of the final purchase agreement, and method of funding toward it's cost, can be obtained from the Mayor's office, or the Board of Alderman who is the fiscal authority for the City of Shelton.

With this acquisition, the City Open Space in the Shelton Lakes Greenway area now totals close to half a thousand acres. The first parcel (Abby Wright Parcel) was purchased in the 1960's across from where the La'Hermitage Condominiums are now located. Consistently following an Open Space Plan document has helped achieve this success which the public enjoys today.

The bulk of the Greenway's acreage was preserved in a 1997 purchase of properties from Bridgeport Hydraulic Companies (aka Aquarian) that were Class 3 watershed and thus available for sale from the water utility. That purchase was accomplished via a 1997Jun3 referendum question to bond $6.7million for the costs - which Shelton Voters approved with 89.5% of votes cast. Other parcels were acquired in later years via subdivision set-aside per Planning & Zoning regulations, in-fee-simple purchase, or in-lieu of back taxes.

The parcel will further facilitate the Recreation Path toward completion as a handicap accessible grade multi-use trail through the Shelton Lakes Greenway Corridor from Pine Lake on Rte.108 near downtown, to Lane Street at Huntington Center. Significant progress was made this year by a contractor awarded a project which constructed the RecPath from the two separate ends toward this parcel.

The Trails Enthusiasts have a Committee and Blog that expresses their enthusiasm for the purchase.
http://sheltontrailscom.blogspot.com/2011/08/great-ledge-property-purchased.html

Further information regarding mapping, trail guides, and planning documents that the Conservation Commission uses, can be found on our website:

www.sheltonconservation.org

From there you can discover deeper discussion of our activities via the services of blogs, facebook, and google groups.

Thomas Harbinson is Chairman of the Conservation Commission. He can best be reached via email: thomas.harbinson@gmail.com

Teresa Gallagher is the Conservation Commission's Conservation Agent, a part-time position in City Hall. She can best be reached via email: conservation@cityofshelton.org

Wild Animal Sightings

There has been recent sightings of animals that many confuse to be a mountain lion. While there was a mountain lion hit by a car in Milford that had been in the area, the possibility of another is extremely low.

What is likely observed, it a coyote, or a bobcat - both of which are more prevalent in our region. The Valley Independent Sentinel had an article regarding a wild animal encounter on Crystal Lane, which as I post this is unconfirmed.

This NYTimes article has a photo of the mountain lion hit by a car in Milford in June.

This map has a informal listing of animal sightings in the area of Shelton.

If you see an unknown animal, and it is safe for you to do so, snap a picture with your camera or cellphone. It will prove valuable for identification purposes.

Commission Appointments

Service on the Conservation Commission comes about via appointment from the Mayor for a three year term. The seven positions on the Commission follow a rotation of term that has expiration of 2, 2 and 3 individuals. These terms have been harmonized to expire on Aug1 among the variation of years.

Currently all positions are filled. The Mayor recently re-appointed Jim Tate, Joe Welsh and Bill Dyer for another 3yr term.

The average length of service for the current Conservation Commission is 9yrs. I believe Jim Tate has served the longest as a Commissioner, close to 15yrs. I began service in 1998, so I'm in my 13th year myself.

Among other characteristics, longevity of service to a commitment that requires a dedication toward a long-term goal, is important for success in the realm of Open Space preservation and conservation. It is one aspect that has led to our continued success as a community that has balanced economic growth via development, with quality of life via Open Space preservation.

I thank the Mayor for his confidence in our Commissioners as illustrated by their re-appointments for continued service to the community.

Our website has a page that describes in detail what each member of the Commission contributes to the group.

http://www.sheltonconservation.org/about/about.htm

Tom Harbinson - Chairman