Ogden committee studies open space plan for future

Drawing a blueprint for the future of the Town of Ogden is how Rod Stettner describes the process of Ogden's Open Space Committee.

Stettner, a farmer who works a couple thousand acres and owns about 600 - most within the town limits - said, "Because farmers control and own a large amount of the land that's not developed within the town, we were invited to sit on the committee as a proactive way to be involved in the planning process for the town's development."

Both Stettner and Ogden Town Councilman David Feeney, who also serves as chairman of the Open Space Committee, said planned growth for the town will help keep its rural character intact. Members for the committee were chosen from the town's planning and zoning boards as well as interested community members and those who owned and worked land within the town.

"Growth can't occur in a haphazard manner," Stettner said. "One of the important tasks of the open space committee was that we have an evolving, working plan with a tremendous number of permutations of how space can be utilized in the town to keep it a desirable plan to live in."

Developing areas within the town, while incorporating planned areas for open space, was the task put forth with the committee. "The town leaders recognize there is a demand for growth and development in the town and I don't think anyone is trying to limit it, we are just trying to steer the way it will happen and have it mesh with the master plan," Stettner said.

The formation of an open space plan didn't happen overnight. Feeney said the process has been on-going for the past couple of years and came about as a result of the town's comprehensive plan that was adopted in 2003. It began with the compilation of questions for a survey that was distributed to the public. Once the survey was returned, results were analyzed and then the committee has been moving forward with objectives raised from the survey and input gathered from public information meetings.

"In order to meet some of the goals the committee set, the town might have to look into changes in our present zoning laws," Feeney said. "There might need to be conservation easements or we might offer tax breaks to those who agree not to develop their land."

Smart, controlled, planned growth is what Feeney said the town wants to put forth.

"We are ahead of the curve in the planning phases for development," Feeney said. "There are many towns that are scrambling to hold on to their open space but because we're being proactive we will address future development through better planning."

Both men said the document compiled by the open space committee will be a living one and will not be put on a shelf to gather dust. "We will be using the plan to help keep all of the pieces of the puzzle fitting," Stettner said.

Feeney said members of the committee are looking to host an information meeting for the public in early May to gather further comments and concerns.

April 2, 2006