[CT Birds] Bad news for Griswold Airport

[Eric Davison]

Just wanted to weigh in on the issue from my experience as a wetland
scientist and consultant for both developers and municipalities.  The
real issue is that there is no current legislation protecting upland
wildlife habitat, and minimal protection of wetland wildlife habitat.  I
see so many development applications in which the issue of wildlife
impacts is raised.  If the zoning or wetland commissions try to reduce
the size of proposed developments or deny development applications based
on impacts to wildlife they are always scared straight by the developers
lawyers who argue that there is no legal basis for the denial of an
application based on impacts to wildlife - which is true.  There is no
legislative protection of wildlife and their habitats, even if there are
impacts to state-listed wildlife.  The old adage "you get what you zone
for" is very true.  Whatever the zoning is for a particular parcel of
land is, expect that someday that land use will occur on that parcel.
The best way to protect wildlife habitat in CT is pro-active land
preservation.   

-----Original Message-----
From: ctbirds-bounces at lists.ctbirding.org
[mailto:ctbirds-bounces at lists.ctbirding.org] On Behalf Of COMINS,
Patrick
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 3:02 PM
To: Posting Bird List
Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Bad news for Griswold Airport


Some great ideas Clay, but I think it is too late now.  It would likely
take a court ruling to impede the progress, and I don't think such
economic issues would carry weight on a basis to reverse either the
zoning or permitting decisions.   Even the investigation into the land
swap that made this development possible won't have much bearing on
whether the project moves forward.  The DEP (under a former
administration) traded an access easement on state property that allowed
better access to the site from Rt 1 in exchange for an easement on .6
acres of wetlands on the back part of the property. (see story:
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-easement0115.artjan15,0,5028009.sto
ry?page=2&coll=hc_tab01_layout )


We raised the economics of birding (along with other issues) at the
Planning and Zoning hearings way back when I didn't have so much gray
hair, but the Commission approved this development (at a density reduced
from the original proposal).  I just wish the property could have been
bought by the State back when it was for sale from a willing owner.  We
worked on that angle before this development was even proposed and
didn't gain much traction.

Patrick Comins, Meriden


_______________________________________________
This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association
(COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut.  
For subscription information visit
http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org