741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Land Use/Planning/Public Works

Committee

Meeting Minutes

Chairman

Kevin J. Dombrowski

Regular Meeting

Monday, October 2, 2023

6:00 PM

Town Hall Annex - Hybrid Format

In -Person: Annex Meeting Room, Town Hall Annex Building

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CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Councilor Paul at 6:00 p.m. at

the Council Chambers, Town Hall Annex Building.

Councilor Paul welcomed all to the Hybird Meeting. He stated 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

Gary Paul

Present:

S. Naomi Rodriguez

John Marshall

Excused:

In addition, the following were present:

Earl (Ty) Lamb Historic District Commission

Karen ParkinsonTri-Town Trail Association

Roxanne MaherAdministrative Assistant

III.

RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS

Spicer Homestead - Historical Research and Photos.

Mr. Earl (Ty) Lamb, 95 Lambtown Road, Ledyard, Historic District Commission.

Mrs. Karen Parkinson, 55 Rose Hill Road, Ledyard, Tri-Town Trail Association

President.

Mr. Lamb explained that the Historic District Commission and the Tri-Town Trail

Association were working together to identify local historical sites and create small

parks that were off shoots from the Tri-Town Trail where people could take some

time to read the plaques providing some historical facts regarding the site that would

be placed along the Trail and to take a rest. He noted the two Groups were currently

looking at the following properties and working through the process to get the sites

Registered as Historical Sites with State Archaeological Department:

· Spicer Ruins located on the Clark Farm, 1025 Colonel Ledyard Highway -which

they would be talking about this evening.

· Lambtown Road had a location where they would like to create a Pollinator

Garden, which was on the Groton Open Space Association (GOSA) land.

· Rogerene sites in Ledyard.

Mr. Lamb stated that he and Mrs. Parkinson were present this evening to discuss the

Spicer Ruins Site that was located on the Clark Farm, 1025 Colonel Ledyard

Highway. He stated the site was already part of the Tri-Town Trail noting that from

the Preston Plains Trailhead the site was about three-miles in. He stated the Spicer

Ruins site could also be accessed from the Parking Lot by the old Red Barn on the

Clark Farm by crossing the bridge and following the trail to the left.

Mr. Lamb went on to explain that the Historic District Commission’s involvement

would be to make a Historical Registered Park in the area of the stonewalls, stream,

dual cellars, and where the old house was.

Mrs. Parkinson stated Ledyard Rotary Club gave the Tri-Town Trail Association

$1,000 for fencing and signage. However, she stated that they had not used the

money yet, because they did not know how much of the area the Historic District

Commission would want to encompass for the Park.

Mrs. Parkinson stated currently the site was unprotected noting that the Tri-Town

Trail has been working through the process and have received an Archaeological Site

Number. She explained that the Tri-Town Trail Association received Grant funding

from the Community Foundation noting that some of the money was put aside to put

in a crosswalk the Preston Plains Park Trailhead; and that $3,000 of the grant was

used to hire Sarah Holmes, PhD Archaeology Consultant to conduct the

Archaeological Land Record Study to verify that that the site was the Peter and Mary

Spicer Homestead dating back to 1670. She went on to explain that then they had to

submit the verification to the State Archaeological Organization and that they

provided them with the Archaeological Site Number. She explained that the Site

Number does not have any strings attached to it; noting that it just gives it a number

identifying that it was a site. She stated if they moved forward to get the site

preserved and protected then they would have State Laws that could be posted on the

property stating that you could not remove anything, etc. She noted without having

the site protected anyone could desecrate the property without any real punishment,

except for a misdemeanor. She stated if the property was protected under the State

Archaeological Department that there would be much bigger fines should anyone

cause damage or remove anything from the site. However, she explained the

Tri-Town Trail’s Mission was not to protect historical sites, which was the reason the

Historic District Commission has agreed to take-on this project.

Mrs. Parkinson noted the paperwork that was provided for tonight’s meeting was the

Archaeological Study that was conducted, and she provided an overview of the

background provided in the Report regarding the Spicer Ruins site that was located

on the Clark Farm, 1025 Colonel Ledyard Highway, Ledyard noting the following:

“The earliest 17th century land deeds granted to Peter Spicer from New London only

provided a vague description of the actual metes and bounds and in many instances

are incomplete.

Initially, Peter Spicer’s lands were bounded with a swamp on the west and south.

Other early land records identify a brook on the northern bound. Although it was

not definitively proven through title search where Peter Spicer’s first dwelling was

located, the landscape in the vicinity of the “Spicer Rock” contains extensive field

systems enclosed within stonewalls, along with a well and cellar holes that suggest

great time depth.

Peter Spicer’s descendants, Edward (2) and John (3) Spicer lived in separate

residences in 1723 John Spicer’s (4) farm included the land recently purchased by

John Spicer (4) from Daniel Whipple of approximately 16 acres 11 rods.

The Whipple purchase became the north line of the Spicer farm measuring

115 rods in width (east to west) and provided the location of the northeast

corner bound at the brook and highway (located near to the newly installed

footbridge on the northwestern side of the large field at 1025 Colonel Ledyard

Highway).

John Spicer’s (4) last will and testament, dated May 6, 1769, stated he left his two

sons, John Spicer (5) and Cyrus Spicer (5), his farm. The estate was equally divided,

although John (4) left Cyrus the house.

The division of John Spicer’s (4) in 1772 describes a 146 acre farm.

John Spicer (5) also receives one half of the orchard lying east of the dwelling house

on the eastern side of the 146 acres.

Survey of division agreement/line:

•

to begin the division line at a heap of stones in the north line of said farm 55

(52?) rods westerly from northeast corner

•

running south from said heap of stones 11 degrees east 150 rods to a heap of

stones south of the barn

•

south 7 degrees east 95 ½ (15 ½?) rods to an heap of stones

south 5 degrees west 22 rods to an heap of stones

south 7 degrees east 14-1/2 rods to heap of stones on north line of Capt.

Robert Geer land

Survey of John’s orchard:

• one half of orchard lying east of dwelling house

•

beginning at southwest corner of George Geer land

running south 13 degrees east across said orchard to heap of stones by a wall

east 22 degrees north 11 ½ rods to George Geer’s land

with said George Geer’s land to the first mentioned bound

containing 1 acre 20 rods

The title search indicated the abutters on the Spicer property remain constant over

time in regard to Cyrus Spicer’s inheritance from his father John Spicer (4) in 1769.

Benjamin Geer and George Geer’s property abutted the Spicer land on the east,

often with a brook as a boundary.

To review, the clearest survey regarding the location of any appurtenances including

the Spicer dwelling is from the last will and testament of John Spicer’s (4) in 1769

and the division of his estate totaling 146 acres inherited by his sons Cyrus and John

Spicer in 1772.

Mrs. Parkinson noted that the Archaeological Report included the

following suggestions:

If the Town is interested, a request for an archaeological site number and an

archaeological site form could be filed with the Office of State Archaeology. The site

form would describe, at a minimum, the immediate area to the south of the bridge

near “Spicer Rock”, the possible cellar holes and the stone-well. The archaeological

site description could also include the field system in this area.

Maps related to Spicer landholdings.

Mr. Lamb noted that his role on the Historic District Commission was Preservation

and Research. He stated the Clark Farm was town property, and therefore, the

Historic District Commission would like to request the Town Council place the Spice

Ruins under the Commission’s Administrative Control to continue their work in

preserving it as a historic site and to create a small park.

Councilor Rodriguez requested clarification regarding the location of property. Mrs.

Parkinson stated that the Spice Ruins was within the 101-acre Clark Farm parcel

which was located at 1025 Colonel Ledyard Highway. She stated that currently Mr.

Walter Majcher leased both sides of the Joe Clark Brook for farming to grow hay and

corn, noting that Mr. Majcher was not able to get to the other side of the Brook

because there was no bridge. She stated as they could see on the map (above) the

Spicer Homestead re was a rectangular area further north on the property.

The LUPPW Committee, Mrs. Parkinson and Mr. Lamb reviewed the parcel on the

Town’s Geographic Information System (GIS) Mapping System. Mr. Lamb pointed

out the Spicer Rock and he noted that they would like to preserve about one to

two-acres around the rock explaining that the Spicer Rock would be about in the

middle of the preserved area. He stated the Spicer Ruins was in the hilly wooded area

of the property, noting that where Mr. Majcher was farming was quite a distance

away in the field area. He stated the Spicer Ruins was about three-miles from the

Preston Plains Park Trailhead and about one and half miles coming into the property

from the other side near the old Red Barn.

Mrs. Parkinson stated it appears that the area has been undisturbed since the house

burned down many years ago and she noted the following photographs were also

included in the meeting packet:

The LUPPW Committee noted the Clark Farm was currently under the Town Council’s

Administrative Control They agreed to schedule a Stie Walk on Friday, October 20,

2023 at 9:00 a.m. to walk the property as they continued to research the process to

preserve the site and to identify the process possibly assign a site within the Clark Farm

property to the Historic District Commission to provide the Administrative oversight.

Councilor Paul thanked Mrs. Parkinson and Mr. Lamb for attending tonight’s meeting.

Mrs. Parkinson and Mr. Lamb left the meeting at 6:16 p.m.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

IV.

PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

None.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION to approve the Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee Minutes of June 5,

2023.

Moved by Councilor Paul, seconded by Councilor Rodriguez

VOTE: 2 - 0 Approved and so declared

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

RESULT:

VI.

OLD BUSINESS

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

Councilor Paul noted that the last Report the LUPPW Committee received was in

July, 2023.

Councilor Rodrigez stated that she received a comment from a Resident and that she

would speak to Blight Enforcement Officer Eric Treaster; and provide an update at

the LUPPW Committee’s November 6, 2023 meeting.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Status update regarding security and safety concerns regarding Park on East Drive

Councilor Paul stated that he checked with Police Chief John Rich noting there have

been no new issues reported. He stated he recently visited the Park noting that it looked

great. He thanked the Polce Department, Parks & Recreation Director Scott Johnson, Jr.

and Public Works Department for all of their work and he also thanked the Residents for

their involvement and support.

Councilor Rodriguez stated that she had not spoken to Mr. Jamison since their last

meeting, ant that she would have an update for their November 6, 2023 meeting.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Any other Old Business proper to come before the Committee.

None.

VII. NEW BUSINESS

MOTION to extend Archery Hunting on Certain Town Owned Lands and Certain Open

Space Properties for one-year in accordance with provisions in Ordinance#100-018 (rev. 1)

"An Ordinance Providing Archery Hunting on Certain Town Owned Lands and Certain

Open Space Properties".

Moved by Councilor Rodriguez, seconded by Councilor Paul

Discussion: Councilor Paul stated Ordinance#100-018 (rev. 1) provided for Archery

Hunting on Certain Town Owned Lands and Certain Open Space Properties. He

stated in accordance with Section 4. “Annual Expiration” the Ordinance would

expire annually at the end of the calendar year, unless a vote of the Town Council

was taken to approve to extend it for one year. He stated that this was simply an

Administrative Action.

VOTE: 2 - 0 Approved and so declared

RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL

S. Naomi Rodriguez

RESULT:

MOVER:

Gary Paul

SECONDER:

Paul and Rodriguez

Marshall

AYE:

EXCUSED:

Any other New Business proper to come before the Committee.