Selectboard approves renaming of Saunders parcel, asks Commission for full management plan

The Selectboard consented to a proposed name change for the Saunders parcel, shifting from 'Saunders River Access' to 'Saunders Conservation Area' to better reflect the site's primary purpose of flood resilience and conservation. Conservation Commissioner Carolyn Dash noted the parcel — acquired in 2013 and expanded in 2020 to roughly 54 acres — functions as a flood-resiliency reserve and is difficult to reach for boat access; a stewardship plan by the Vermont River Conservancy governs the easement but does not serve as a full town-owned management plan.

Commissioners and Board members discussed whether the name change might limit future uses such as a dog park or alternate water-source uses; the general intent is behavioral signaling that the property is conservation-focused. By consensus the Board approved the name change and directed the Conservation Commission to prepare a full town management plan for Saunders, to include the Vermont River Conservancy stewardship materials as an appendix.