Groton Open Space Association

GOSA Annual Meeting Reviews Success And Looks To Efforts Ahead

GROTON — GOSA held its 2002 annual meeting Oct. 8, recognized its success in having 57 acres added to Haley Farm State Park during the year and outlined its plans to save a section of Fort Hill that currently is scheduled for development.

Priscilla Pratt, president, told the membership that Groton “has a lot of perceived open space but not a lot of protected open space.” She said GOSA will try to preserve as much open space as possible, while striving for town regulations that protect the environment. The meeting was held at the Latham Chester Store in Noank.

Ms. Pratt briefed the membership on GOSA’s efforts to save the 75-acre Merritt Property on Fort Hill from development as a 48-house subdivision called Mystic Estates. GOSA has appealed the Planning Commission’s split decision to permit the subdivision.

GOSA board member Joan Smith explained the environmental significance of the Merritt Property as a forest, wildlife sanctuary, watershed for Palmer’s Cove and key component of Groton’s network of green spaces, including Pequot Woods, Beebe Pond Park, the Mortimer Wright Preserve, Haley Farm State Park, Bluff Point State Park and Coastal Reserve, the currently unprotected Watrous property and several other areas.

Ms. Smith said GOSA is negotiating with Nelson Merritt, head of the family corporation that owns the property, and is applying for a 65% state grant to help purchase the land. GOSA soon will start a fund-raising effort to finance acquisition costs that aren’t covered by the state grant, she said.

Ms. Smith also presented an award to Mrs. Pratt recognizing her and her late husband, Charles, for “40 years of untiring dedication to saving open space,” including Haley Farm and Bluff Point. The state added 57 acres to the farm this year as a result of a 32-year struggle by GOSA and the Pratts. Mrs. Smith read a tribute to the Pratts that was written by Sidney Van Zandt, first president of GOSA, who was unable to attend the meeting.

Ms. Pratt was re-elected as president for a one-year term. Also reelected for one-year terms were Omar Allvord, treasurer, and Charles Kroll, secretary. Marty Young was elected to a three-year term as a director.

Guest speaker Penny Anthopolos, a staff attorney at the Connecticut Fund for the Environment, described for the membership a new federally mandated program for dealing with pollution from storm water runoff. Under the EPA-required program, the state Department of Environmental Protection plans to order some 80 towns to come up with so-called Phase II storm water runoff plans by March.

Ms. Anthopolos said the program will kick in slowly, with towns being allowed much discretion in what storm water management practices they adopt. In addition, the understaffed DEP will concern itself primarily with “guidance” to towns, rather than enforcement, in the program’s first five years.

Another guest, Diana McMasters, President of Friends of Connecticut State Parks, urged environmentalists in various parts of the state to “speak up for each other’s projects.” She said she would write a letter supporting GOSA’s efforts to save the Merritt Property, and she thanked Ms. Pratt for sharing resources in the recent, successfully concluded struggle to enlarge Harkness State Park through the addition of the Verkade Property to the north.