741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Land Use/Planning/Public Works

Committee

Meeting Minutes

Chairman Gary St. Vil

Special Meeting

Monday, December 8, 2025

6:00 PM

Town Hall Annex - Hybrid Format

In -Person: Council Chambers, Town Hall Annex Building

Remote Participation: Information Noted Below:

Join Zoom Meeting from your Computer, Smart Phone or Tablet:

https://ledyardct.zoom.us/j/89222315077?

pwd=NWWqQatVhtkHfP6QwwNfDxlgBMZ6A5.1

Or by Audio Only: Telephone: +1 646 558 8656; Meeting ID: 892 2231 5077 Passcode:

748393

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Councilor Thompson at 6:00

p.m. at the Town Hall Annex Building.

Councilor Thompson welcomed all to the Hybird Meeting noting for the Town Council

Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee and members of the Public who were

participating via video conference that the remote meeting information was available on

the Agenda that was posted on the Town’s Website - Granicus-Legistar Meeting Portal.

II.

ROLL CALL

Jessica Buhle

Ty Lamb

Present:

James Thompson

In addition, the following were present:

Elizabeth BurdicDkirector of Land Use/Town Planner

Karen ParkinsonHistoric District Commission

Doug KelleyHistoric District Commission

Bruce GarstkAagricultural Commissions Chairman

Roxanne MaherAdministrative Assistant

III.

RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS

None.

IV.

PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

None.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION to approve the Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes of

November 3, 2025.

Moved by Councilor Buhle, seconded by Councilor Lamb

Discussion: The LUPPW Committee Members mentioned that they read the Minutes

from the

previous LUPPW Committee.

VOTE:

3 - 0 Approved and so declared

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Jessica Buhle

RESULT:

MOVER:

Ty Lamb

SECONDER:

Buhle, Lamb and Thompson

AYE:

VI.

OLD BUSINESS

None.

VII. NEW BUSINESS

Continued discussion regarding the progress of enforcing regulations to address blight issues.

Land Use Director/Town Planner Elizabeth Burdick noted that Zoning Official Hannah

Gienau provided a Blight Report for the period of November 3, 2025 - December 8,

2025 for tonight’s meeting. Ms. Burdick noted the following Properties:

· 16 Nutmeg Drive - Ms. Burdick stated there was junk in the driveway, and in the

yard. A Blight Citation was issued on 10/27/25. Compliance was achieved on

11/6/25 and all blight violations were resolved at time of inspection. This case

has been closed.

· 28 Devonshire Drive, Gales Ferry, Storage Shed in Driveway - Inspection

scheduled for December 9, 2025.

· Cartway Property - Route 12 - Land Use Director/Town Planner Elizabeth

Burdick noted the following actions were in the process of being done:

ü Donation Boxes would be removed.

ü Buildings would be demolished - Ms. Burdick explained because of the

proximity to wetlands properties that they would need to test the buildings

for asbestos before demolition.

ü Batting Cages would be removed.

ü Pipes run through the parking lot to the culvert - Ms. Burdick stated that these

pipes has made the property challenging.

Ms. Burdick explained that the property owners inherited the property and

that they have been cooperative. She stated once the buildings were removed

from the property that the owners would be listing the property for sale.

51 Kings Highway, Gales Ferry - Former Stonington Institute Building - Ms.

Burdick stated that the property owners were in the process of replacing all of

the broken windows.

Ms. Burdick stated that Ms. Hannah Gienau passed her Connecticut Association of

Zoning Enforcement Official (CAZEO) Exam and has received her Zoning

Enforcement Officer Certification.

Councilor Buhle noted the many signs around town that were not permitted. Ms.

Burdick stated that Building Official Seumas Quinn and Zoning Official Hannha

Gienau would be picking up the illegal signs as they travel around town doing

inspections. She stated that the Land Use Department would typically call the

businesses and let them know they could pick their signs up at their Office.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Spicer Homestead Ruins - Historical Research and Photos.

Mrs. Karen Parkinson, 55 Rose Hill Road, Ledyard, Vice-Chairman of the Historic

District Commission and President of the Tri-Town Trail Association, provided some

background regarding the Spicer Homestead Ruins property that was settled in 1670.

Mrs. Parkinson continued by stating that she presented the idea to seek a Historic

Designation to preserve the Spicer Homestead Ruins in 2023; noting that this was the

third Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee that she was appealing to. She noted

per the State Statute that the Historic District Commission needed to be appointed by

the Legislative Body to conduct the investigation and study. She also expressed

concern regarding the discrepancy with the A2 Survey that was conducted by Dieter

& Gardner Surveyors noting that it was not done on the entire 4.4-acres that the Historic

District Commission would like to preserve. She noted that she has been talking with

Connecticut Preservation Archaeologist Stefon Danczuk to obtain additional

clarification regarding the process, noting that Mr. Danczuk has visited Ledyard and

walked the site a couple of times and she suggested the members of the LUPPW

Committee hike the Tri-Town Trail and see the Spicer Homestead Ruins if they have

not visited the site.

Councilor Buhle read the following from the LUPPW Committee’s August 26, 2025

letter:

“At our May 5, 2025 meeting Land Use Director Elizabeth Burdick offered to

meet with Mrs. Parkinson and/or other Historic District Commission Members

to: (1) Review the steps necessary to seek a Historic Designation; (2) Facilitate

a meeting between Mayor Allyn and Mrs. Parkinson and/or other Historic

District Commission Members to discuss the A2 Survey that was prepared by

Dieter & Gardner Surveyors; and (3) Offered to attend a Historic District

Commission meeting to review the step-by-step process required to move the

initiative forward. As of our August 4, 2025 LUPPW Committee meeting Ms.

Burdick had not been contacted by any members of your Commission.”

Councilor Lamb encouraged Mrs. Parkinson to meet with Land Use Director/Town

Planner Elizabeth Burdick to discuss the process, along with her concerns regarding the

current A2 Survey Map. He suggested the LUPPW Committee include and item on their

January 5, 2026 Agenda to “Appoint the Historic District Commission to conduct a study

of the proposed Spicer Homestead and follow all steps according to State Statute

Chapter 7a, Section 7-147q "procedures for establishing historic properties.”

Land Use Director/Town Planner Elizabeth Burdick stated that a 8-24 Review by the

Planning & Zoning Commission was required for any changes to town property to

ensure that it was in compliance with the Plan of Conservation & Development (POCD).

She also noted that the A2 Survey Map would need to match the Historic Designation

Application Package they would be sending to the State.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Review and discuss the Agricultural Commission’s proposed List of Criteria for the Leasing

of Town-Owned Land such as Clark Farm and former Norwich State Hospital Property to

encourage the properties continue to be used for Agricultural purposes.

Mr. Bruce Garskta, 10 Pleasant View, Ledyard, Agricultural Commission Chairman,

stated he attended the Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee’s October 6, 2025

meeting and received authorization for the Agricultural Commission to draft a List of

Criteria for the Leasing of Town-Owned Land.

Mr. Garstka provided some background noting that currently Mr. Majcher has been

leasing a portion of the Clark Farm for agricultural use for many years. He stated Mr.

Majcher’s five-year lease would expire on March 15, 2026; and he noted that Mr.

Majcher was not interested in continuing to lease the property.

Mr. Garstka continued by addressing the importance for Ledyard to maintain its

agricultural lands noting that once farmland has been developed that it would never go

back to farmland. He noted as an example that Ledyard had 35 Dairy Farms at one time;

and today they have no Dairy Farms.

Mr. Garstka explained that the Clark Farm had prime farmland soils and the 102-acre

parcel located 1025 Colonel Ledyard Highway and the 42-acre parcel located 1087

Colonel Ledyard Highway had deed restrictions stating that the property may be used

for agricultural purposes only. He stated the Agricultural Commission’s objectives

were to keep the properties in agricultural use, reduce/eliminate invasive plants to keep

the invasive species from encroaching into the fields, and to maintain soil health.

Mr. Garstka provided an overview of the List of Criteria the Agricultural Commission

developed as presented in his December 3, 2025 Memo. He stated the List of Criteria

may be helpful in securing a new lessee for the 102-acre Clark Farm Property, located at

1025 Colonel Ledyard Highway, and the 42-acre parcel, located at 1087 Colonel

Ledyard Highway Property as follows:

1. The land shall be used for the production of hay only.

2. Any change of crop must be approved beforehand in writing.

3. The fields must be mowed at least yearly with a mowing height not to exceed

eight

inches.

4. Any harvested hay may be stored on site at a location chosen by the Town.

5. No harvested hay may be stored over one year, and all harvested hay must be

removed at end of the lease.

6. All necessary insurance is to be in effect for the term of the lease.

7. A five-year renewable lease is preferred.

8. Lessee must have a proven track record.

9. Lessee must have a means to fulfill lease terms.

10.

11.

References must be provided.

Fields shall be limed, fertilized, and sprayed for weeds using approved

agricultural

methods and standards.

The fee is to be determined.

12.

Mr. Garstka stated the Agricultural Commission felt that finding a good steward of the

land would be a benefit to the Town because it would free up Town resources from

maintaining the properties. He stated that the harvesting of hay would have the least

impact on the land while keeping it in agricultural use for generations to come.

The Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee agreed to continue this discussion at

their January 7, 2026 meeting

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Any New Business proper to come before the Committee

None.

ADJOURNMENT

Councilor Buhle moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Councilor

Thompson.

VOTE:

6:57 p.m.

3- 0 Approved and so declared, the meeting was adjourned at

Respectfully submitted,

James Thompson

Committee Chairman

Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee

DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the

Town.