At its meeting last night (Thursday), the Conservation Commission voted to
reattach the vernal pools provisions to the proposed wetlands
ordinance, leave the replication requirement as it is (at 200 feet),
and resubmit the ordinance to the City Council’s Ordinance Committee.
A hearty thanks to all of you who showed up at the meeting. There
were roughly 50 people there, most of them conservation
advocates. You really made the difference!
Our next step will be encouraging the Ordinance Committee to pass
the ordinance on to the full City Council. They will probably take
it up at their next regular meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, June
12. Please mark your calendars; we’ll need an even bigger turnout
at that meeting.
In the meantime, please get in touch with your City Councilors; ask
them to urge their colleagues on the Ordinance Committee to bring the
wetlands ordinance to the Council, and ask them to vote for it when
it comes before them.
Broad Brook Coalition’s Board of Directors strongly supports the
ordinance that came out of the Conservation Commission last
night. It didn’t include everything we would have liked, and no
doubt other conservation advocates would have liked it to be stronger
as well. But we firmly believe that it’s a big improvement over the
existing regulations, especially with the inclusion of the
protections for vernal pools. We hope you’ll join us in working for
its passage.
You’ll hear from us later with more details, but we wanted you all
to know this encouraging news as soon as possible.
Best,
Norma Roche
Secretary, Broad Brook Coalition Board of Directors.
Norma volunteers at the Barrett Street Marsh in December, 2006
Conservation Commission meeting TONIGHT Thursday, May 10. The
Wetlands discussion will begin about 6 pm.
If you plan to comment:
1)Please remember that the Conservation Commission is
on our side – they have worked hard for a strong
ordinance. Be respectful of the good work they have
done. They want to hear that there is community
support for a stronger ordinance.
2)TALKING POINTS: Ask the Conservation Commission to
support our two main goals:
Restore the Vernal Pool provisions.
Increase protection to the Arcadia Wildlife Corridor.
increased buffer zones around wetlands
200% replication standards (which means that if a
wetland must be destroyed, it will be replaced at
twice its area).
Call me if you have questions or comments.
Bob Bissell
President, Broad Brook Coalition
586-5488
