[CT Birds] Bad news for Griswold Airport

[Sunshine]

What prevented the state from buying this land and adding it to Hammo State
Park if it is that important an ecosystem?  Why do we need more housing when
people can't afford what they have now??

Donna Lorello
Branford

-----Original Message-----
From: ctbirds-bounces at lists.ctbirding.org
[mailto:ctbirds-bounces at lists.ctbirding.org] On Behalf Of Eric Davison
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 3:24 PM
To: 'Posting Bird List'
Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Bad news for Griswold Airport

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.