Land Conservation in Weston:
Planning for the Future

A Town-wide Forum for Residents, Educators, Businesses, Town Organizations, and Developers

April 9, 2005. 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Weston Middle School, Amy Potter Center

Free & Open to the Public
(Refreshements and lunch will be served)

Directions to the Amy Potter Center can be found at http://www.landssake.org/contact/ under Weston Middle School.

Agenda

9:00 – 9:05 am Welcome
Ned Rossiter (Land’s Sake)

9:05 – 9:45 am Keynote Addresses
“Looking Back: Conservation in Weston in the 20th Century” Pamela Fox & Brian Donahue

Recognized historian and Weston citizen Pamela Fox will provide a slide history of conservation milestones in Weston-- including acquisition of parks, town forest, and conservation land—and discuss how Weston changed from an agricultural community with an abundance of undeveloped land to a fast-growing suburb concerned about the loss of "rural character."

Land’s Sake Founder Brian Donahue will present a short history of conservation land stewardship in Weston, focusing on the efforts of the Conservation Commission, Weston Forest & Trail Association, Green Power Farm and Land's Sake.

9:45 – 10:15 am Panel Presentation from the five conservation organizations in Weston

“Who we are, What we do”

• Conservation Commission
• Land's Sake
• Weston Forest and Trail Association
• Weston Land Trust
• Community Preservation Committee

10:25 am Q&A with panelists

10:25 – 10:45 am Coffee break

10:45 – 11:45 pm Morning Working Sessions: “21st Century Challenges”

“Large & Small: Protect them All? Ways and Means”
“Managing Growth and Development”
“Environmental Education and the Next Generation”
“Maintenance and Management of Existing Trails & Open Space”
“New Stresses on Old Lands”

11:45 – 12:15 pm Report back to full group and next steps

12:15 – 1:00 pm Lunch

1:00 – 1: 30 pm Guest Speaker - Sharon Wason, Southeast Regional Advocacy Coordinator, MassAudubon

1:30 – 2:55 pm Panel & Audience Discussion: “Choosing Weston’s Future: Weston’s Last Great Unprotected Spaces” Moderated by Robin Reisman, Director, Weston Land Trust

The focus of this discussion will be on the few remaining large parcels of undeveloped unprotected land in Weston. We will briefly describe the location (with maps), natural features, short history, and current status of each of the properties and may project potential future uses for several of them. Audience participation is anticipated and will be welcomed.

2:55 – 3:00 pm Closing Statements