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Preservation of Open Space and North Branford’s 2008 Local Elections. Abigail Rose Walston EVE 539 December 3, 2008. The Value of Open Space. Preserves Natural Resources Wildlife Wetlands Soil Water Provides Local Food Contributes to Aesthetic Beauty of the Town.
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Preservation of Open Space and North Branford’s 2008 Local Elections Abigail Rose Walston EVE 539 December 3, 2008
The Value of Open Space • Preserves Natural Resources • Wildlife • Wetlands • Soil • Water • Provides Local Food • Contributes to Aesthetic Beauty of the Town
Current Open Space in North Branford • Forests • Wetlands • Agricultural Lands • Lands Owned by Regional Water Authority
History of Open Space Preservation • Rural character of the town • Support of town council and townspeople • Value of open space and farmland reflected in Plan of Conservation and Development
CGS § 12-107 • a.k.a. Public Act 490 • 1963 • Allows land to be designated as “Open Space” • Provides tax incentives to preserve open land, forest, farmland • Assesses land based on current use rather than market value
D- Rosa DeLauro Smart Growth Preserve Open Space Protect Farmlands Protect National Parks and Forests Stewart B. McKinney Wildlife Refuge R- Boaz ItzHaky “Talk to your local officials” US House of Representatives3rd District of CT
D- Edward Meyer Senate Chair of Environment Committee Smart Growth Preserve Open Space Environmental Leadership Award from the Watershed Partnership Co-sponsor of “Community Investment Act” $510,650 grant for Guilford/Killingworth Support Local Farmers R- Ryan Suerth Education, Economy, and “3 Strikes” law are priorities Wants to make our towns more affordable to live in and improve quality of life and safety State Senate 12th District
State Representative86th District • R- Vincent Candelora • Co-chair to Regional Efficiency Sub-group of the Smart Growth Task Force • From a farming family in NB • “I have always supported appropriate land preservation” for open space and agricultural lands • Supports clean-up and use of brownfields rather than developing open space
Open Space and Party Lines? • Democrats DeLauro and Meyer favor preservation of Open Space • Republicans ItzHaky and Suerth find other issues to be more important • Republican Candelora also favors and works to preserve Open Space
NB Republicans and Open Space • Strong Agricultural Ties in NB • R- Town Council Members tend to support Open Space, Agricultural Lands and “Preserving the Rural Character” of NB • Conservation Commission and Agricultural Commission mostly Republican
Influence on People’s Votes? • DeLauro’s Win • Landslide • Many issues • Meyer’s Win • Clearly the candidate for the environment • Candelora’s Win • Unopposed… townspeople are generally happy
Bibliography • “2008 Connecticut Voter’s Guide- Edward Meyer and Ryan Suerth.” Hartford Courant. 11 November 2008. http://courant.com/news/politics/hc-voteguide2008-searchstory,0,2888593.htm/story • “Chapter 203 * Property Tax Assessment.” Connecticut General Assembly. 6 October 2008. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/pub/Chap203.htm#Sec12-107e.htm • “Environment and Open Space.” Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. 15 May 2008. 14 November 2008. http://delauro.house.gov/release.cfm?id=1239 • “Meyer Announces $510,560 in Open Space Grants for Guilford and Killingworth.” Press Release from State Senator Edward Meyer. 11 October 2007. 14 November 2008. http://senatedems.ct.gov/pr/meyer-071012.html • “Photo Log.” Connecticut State Senator Edward Meyer. 2 December 2008. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/sn/gal-sn/meyer-gal/Meyer-photo-080901.html • “Public Act 490- The Basics.” Connecticut Department of Agriculture. 6 October 2008. http://www.ct.gov/doag/cwp/view.asp?a=1366&q=259834
Image Sources • http://www.boforcongress.com • http://delauro.house.gov/ • http://www.housegop.ct.gov/images/gallery2008/candelorav/candeloragallery2008.asp • http://www.housegop.ct.gov/members/Candelora.asp • http://www.sdvlaw.com/ryan.html • http://senatedems.ct.gov/Meyer.htm • http://www.townofnorthbranfordct.com