Politics & Government
Rocky Hill Farmers Have An Opportunity To Think About
Farmers can retain ownership of farms but get aid from town and state to keep farms agricultural in future.
Farm owners and interested residents came to Town Council Chambers to attend a Special Meeting called by the Open Space Land Acquisition and Farmland Preservations Committee. The meeting was billed a "Farmland Forum" and was moderated by Barbara Surwilo, chairman of the committee and Katherine Winslow, of the Connecticut Dept. of Agriculture.
Winslow detailed the programs offered by the Connecticut Dept. of Agriculture, the most popular of which is called te Purchasing Development Rights of PDR. In this program the farm owners who participate:
- Preserve their property for agricultural purposes only
- The management of the property is in accordance with the conservation plan
- There is no sub-division of the property or non-agriculture development
- Any special restrictions are recorded ahead of time.
There were many questions from the farm owners and citizens. They ranged from building on the farm to public perception.
"I'm worried about the public image and the public perception of this," said Linda Gilbert, owner of Gilbert Farm at 730 Elm St. "I hope when people hear we are getting public aid they don't think of the farms as public areas. I'm thinking they will think they can use the farms for trails or a 'pick your own.'
"I hope people don't think this is for public use and it is private property with private owners. I don't want people using my farm as walking trails or dirt biking trails. I guess that's my big concern."
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