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Conservation Commission offers help on Brookfield master plan natural‑resources section
Summary
The Conservation Commission will help the Planning Board with the natural resources inventory section of the town master plan and will invite the Heritage Commission to join a joint effort, the board heard Feb. 10.
BROOKFIELD TOWN — Members of Brookfield’s Conservation Commission told the Planning Board on Feb. 10 they are prepared to help with the natural resources inventory section of the town master plan, and asked the board to coordinate next steps.
Frank Frazier, chair of the Conservation Commission, offered the commission’s assistance and said he will propose a joint meeting with the Heritage Commission to contribute to historical‑site information. "The Conservation Commission would very much like to help you with the natural resources inventory section of the Master Plan," Frazier said, adding that the Heritage Commission could support the historic‑sites portion.
Why this matters: The natural resources inventory section informs policy decisions on open space, conservation, and land‑use planning; a fuller inventory can affect future zoning and regulatory choices.
Discussion points and scope
Frazier told the board that Brookfield has historically produced what amounts to an index — a list of notable natural and historic resources including old mill sites — rather than a comprehensive inventory. He noted other towns have spent substantial sums to produce multi‑page inventories; by contrast, Brookfield expects a more modest, locally scaled effort and suggested the Regional Planning Commission (SRPC) might assist.
Planning Board chair Ed Ingalls and other members agreed to set up a working session to coordinate the Conservation Commission’s offer with board staff and the SRPC. The board will review the master plan’s strategic framework and action list at a future working meeting and schedule follow‑up sessions for the inventory work.
Timeline and next steps
Frazier said the Conservation Commission has already discussed participation and will bring the Heritage Commission into a joint meeting. Planning Board members said they will meet with Frazier to define next steps and to determine whether the inventory will meet the RSA requirement (the board will reread the RSA language to confirm whether an index or a full inventory is required). The board did not set a final deadline at the Feb. 10 meeting.
Ending
Board members asked staff to coordinate with SRPC and schedule a working session; the planning board will address the master plan inventory work in upcoming meetings and hearings.
