MANAGEMENT PLAN

DIME SAVINGS PROPERTY

Adopted by Town Council June 27, 2006

I. General Property Description

The Dime Savings Property is a 300-acre parcel situated between the north side of Interstate-84 and the Cheshire-Wolcott border, accessed from the north side via Route 322. A paved path for Regional Water Authority vehicles approximately 0.3 miles east of the junction of Musso View Avenue and Route 322 currently provides access (outdated agreement as of 2007). Additional access from Route 70 is anticipated upon completion of Interstate 84 reconstruction work in 2005-6, when it is expected that an abandoned highway entrance ramp adjacent to the property will be conveyed to the Town.
This property contains a multitude of open space features including:

1.  300 acres of contiguous unfragmented woodland in a residential zone.

2.  The largest single woodland and property owned by the Town of Cheshire.

3.  Extensive network of inland wetlands and watercourses,

4.  Wonderful environs for passive recreation, with existing network of woods roads requiring little improvement for public use.

5.  Portion of western boundary follows historic remains of colonial-era Kings Highway.

A general map of the properties is attached as “Map 1: Dime Savings Property”; Detailed descriptions of the property’s history and natural & historic features are detailed in Appendix A & B of this plan.

II. Management Goals

General Statement: The Town of Cheshire accomplished public purchase of the Dime Savings Property through direct acquisition. Management goals include, at least, public access/recreation, wetland and upland habitat conservation, and watershed protection.

Therefore, the following management goals shall be recognized by this plan:

1.  The Dime Savings Property shall be managed for a combination of public access and passive recreation, wetland and upland habitat conservation, and forest resource management purposes.

2.  As to public access and passive recreation, this plan recognizes that a major goal and purpose of open space acquisition is for use by the public. Therefore, significant portions of the property shall be available for public use. Efforts shall be made to improve facilities for public access, including informal parking areas and signage.

3.  As to wetland and upland habitat conservation, this plan recognizes that inland wetlands and watercourses are an indispensable and irreplaceable but fragile natural resource with which the citizens of the Town of Cheshire have been endowed. Further, preservation of upland habitats helps to ensure a continuance of native upland biological diversity, and provides a balance to wetland preservation. Therefore, efforts shall be made to preserve/maintain existing wetland and watercourse areas.

4.  As to forest resource management, this plan recognizes that forested landscapes provide a variety of valuable functions within the community including wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and timber resource production. Therefore, efforts shall be made to manage and maintain the property’s forest in a manner that balances ecosystem protection and biodiversity with limited timber resource utilization.

III. Permitted Uses

General Statement: Permitted uses shall be as described in Section 11-30 Open Space of the Town of Cheshire Code of Ordinances.

1.  Existing woods roads, or a portion thereof, shall be posted by the Steward as public trail(s) for passive recreation, as described in Section 11-30 Open Space of the Town of Cheshire Code of Ordinances.

2.  Non-motorized mountain biking may be allowed on trails identified and posted for such purpose by the Steward. Further, the Steward may close trails to bikes during seasonally wet or otherwise inappropriate times.

3.  Wetlands and watercourses shall be maintained in a natural state.

4.  A certified forester shall prepare a forest management plan. The forest management plan shall emphasize goals of, at least, habitat diversity, uneven-aged forest structure, invasive species removal (as needed), and sustainable forestry practices. The plan shall specifically call for a segment of the property to be managed in such a way as to encourage development of structural old growth characteristics. Specific proposals shall be solicited by the Steward of such terms as are acceptable to the Steward, presented for Town Council approval, and subsequently monitored by the Steward.

5.  The steward shall facilitate arrangement of parking facilities, access, and signage appropriate for carrying out the above-stated goals.

IV. Prohibited Uses

Prohibited uses shall be as described in Section 11-30 Open Space of the Town of Cheshire Code of Ordinances.

Appendix A: History of Dime Savings Property

Based on regional history and limited site investigations, it is likely that all or a significant portion of the Dime Savings property was utilized for low-intensity agricultural purposes, such as pasturing, during colonial times. Rotating mixed pasturing-woodlot use was also possible. Since abandonment for agricultural purposes, the property has existed primarily as open space; some minor logging operations have occurred. The property had been examined for development, as evidenced by scattered septic system deep hole test pits, but eventually was subject to a foreclosure.

The town acquired the Dime Savings property in 1995, for $1,226,599, through a foreclosure sale from the Dime Savings Bank. This purchase was one of the great bargains in Cheshire history: 300 acres for just over $1 million.

The Town of Cheshire Plan of Conservation and Development and Conservation’s Open Space chapter identifies an “West Cheshire Greenbelt” as a desirable goal, and the Dime Savings Property is a substantial component toward the realization of this greenbelt.

Appendix B1: Natural/Historical Resources & Terrain

Natural/Historical Resources

The Dime Savings Property is almost entirely, and thickly, comprised of hardwood woodlands, mostly second- and third-growth forest. Occasional scattered stonewalls indicate that, at one time, some of this property was farmed, but the tree growth has pretty thoroughly filled in what area was originally cleared for agriculture. Evidence of previous logging is also present. No other structures related to the previous human habitation can be found on the property. Though the property is not rife with diverse animal and plant life, a great deal of interesting, varied plant life sits beneath the forest canopy, especially along the seasonal streams that bisect the property and the vernal pools that appear just off the existing trails. Judging from the sounds heard during hikes, a rich assortment of bird life can likely be found. Finally, the former Dime Savings property already provides a unique service to Cheshire residents just by virtue of being permanently preserved as open space and natural habitat. It not only enhances the quality of life in Cheshire by providing a natural buffer to any further development along I-84 and Route 322, it is an effective noise and pollution buffer to these same busy roadways.

Unlike many other Town open space holdings, the Dime Savings Property has a number of significant rock outcroppings, some of which could potentially make for extraordinary scenic outlooks with relatively minor selective tree clearing and trail construction. An existing network of woods roads crosses the property. These could easily be blazed as trails for passive recreational use. Given the property’s steep terrain and exposed rock, several of the trails could be appropriate for mountain biking.

Forest Resources

The Dime Savings property is currently completely forested. The forests are primarily maple (Acer spp.), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), birch (Betula spp.) and oak (Quercus, spp.). No significant stands of conifers have been noted. Historic documents including deeds, maps, and airphotos indicate that the majority of the property has been in wooded (hardwood) conditions since at least the 1930s. There is currently no agricultural use on the property. The property displays evidence of colonial-era agricultural and pastoral use, and limited past forest management.

Much of the property was likely cleared for agricultural purposes such as meadows and grassy areas used for grazing and haying, rather than for cultivation of crops. It is possible that portions of the property were managed as woodlands within common colonial-era land husbandry systems. Under such systems, land would be left predominantly in a wooded state. Throughout the property, there are several derelict stonewalls which are evidence of former agricultural usage.

Habitat

To the Town of Cheshire’s knowledge, there are no occurrences of Natural Diversity Database species within or directly adjacent to the Dime Savings Property. However, the size of the property’s unfragmented woodlands, topography, and uplands/wetlands/watercourses mix suggests that the occurrence of valuable native ecological communities is possible within the property. The property could possibly support habitats for woodland and avian species requiring moderate-sized deciduous tracts.

Water Quality Enhancement/Conservation

Protection of the Dime Savings Property provides a buffer for the protection of regional water, as it's at the headwaters of the Cuff Brook/Ten Mile River watersheds, which have valuable habitat areas further downstream. No part of the property is within any currently defined public water supply watershed. Small streams and narrow wetlands are scattered throughout, and surrounding these is a rich assortment of plant and animal life. No significant watercourses or contiguous wetland areas have been noted.

Terrain

The Dime Savings Property lies along the break between Connecticut’s central valley and western uplands. As such, the property is nearly completely sloped, with some steep areas and frequent occurrences of rock outcropping. This sloped-to-steep nature is not prohibitive for hiking but does provide for a greater challenge than some other Town-owned properties. A limited number of glacial boulders (erratics) are strewn throughout the site.

The terrain and elevation makes the property an attractive spot for hikers with some scenic vistas at the higher elevations, especially during winter months. These vistas could be greatly improved through limited selective treeclearing to allow for views eastward across the entire central Connecticut valley, and south to Long Island Sound.

Management Plan: Dime Savings Property 1