Bolinsky Voices Support for Preserving CT Open Space

HARTFORD- State Rep. Mitch Bolinsky (R-106 Newtown) voiced support of legislation to strengthen state Open Space laws.

Senate Bill 70, An Act Concerning The Preservation Of Lands Under The Control Of The Department Of Energy And Environmental Protection And The Department Of Agriculture, will classify the lands for which DEEP and the Department of Agriculture (DoAg) are custodians as being “lands of high conservation value,” unless otherwise designated by the agencies; it will also require that DEEP and DoAg Commissioners place conservation restrictions on deeds for those lands. Additionally, the legislation will initiate a long needed overhaul of the Land Conveyance Bill process.

“The citizens of Connecticut value our state parks and forests and want them to be protected in perpetuity. Millions have been spent to acquire land for conservation but unfortunately much of this land is not truly protected,” said Rep. Bolinsky, who is on the Environment committee and listened to testimony on the open space proposal.

This new “land of high conservation value” classification says that previously “protected” land will not later be used for alternative purposes.

“Additionally, these efforts go a long way towards making the state land conveyance process more transparent and emphasizes that it is a policy of the state to preserve these lands and their resource values,” said Bolinsky.

“It is my hope that we can come together to protect Connecticut’s open spaces and woodlands so as to preserve the natural beauty and rural character of towns such as Newtown throughout the state. Only through these initiatives can our state’s rural areas obtain the true protection they need for years to come,” said Bolinsky.

Statewide land preservation and environmental groups including: The Nature Conservancy, Connecticut Audobon Society, Connecticut Forest and Park Association and the CT Sierra Club testified in support of this open space proposal.