Stratford to look at possibly expanding hunting zones within village

By Kevin O’Brien

More Stratford residents with larger lots may be able to hunt deer on their property in the future after village officials raised the prospect of expanding a zone designated for hunting.

At the village board’s Sept. 10 meeting, trustees approved an official hunting zone map, which lays out three zones for hunting, including a “less restrictive” area on the outskirts of the village where shotguns, bows and black powder rifles can be used and an archery zone where crossbows and bow and arrows are allowed. A third zone, which includes parcels along the local railroad rightof- way, requires a special permit from the village for archery hunting in an effort to reduce the village’s deer population.

Police chief Thomas Koontz said he’s received three inquiries from landowners who want to know if they can hunt in the special permit zone this year, but before he can issue permits, he needed the board to approve the zoning map. Based on observations by officers on patrol, he believes the number of deer

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is high enough to justify special permits being issued.

Trustee Ken Meyer wondered if the village could do anything to encourage hunters to harvest does instead of bucks in order to have a bigger impact on population control.

“Most of the people who are going to hunt in these areas know that there are big bucks in there, and they’re not going to shoot the deer that need to be taken out,” he said.

Chief Koontz said he can ask people about that when they submit a permit application, but under the village’s ordinance, the board is ultimately responsible for approving or denying permits.

“I like the idea of specifying doe-only,” said trustee Maryel Schoenfuss.

Trustee Damon Englebretson pointed out areas on the map are not included in any of the hunting zones, even though the lots are larger and separated from the more densely populated residential neighborhoods.

“I think there are some property owners who would help with the deer population on their own if this map didn’t look like this,” he said, pointing to secluded areas that should be safe for hunting.

On the recommendation of trustee Dale Heil, the board approved the hunting map as is so permits can start to be issued for this year, but the motion also directed the public safety committee to review the map to see if additional parcels can be added to the zones where hunting is allowed. The committee could also consider changing the ordinance to specify the special permit zone as doe-only, Koontz said.

In the meantime, trustee Todd Belter said the village should at least be encouraging local hunters to harvest does in order to reduce the local herd size.

“We’ve had a problem and it’s getting worse,” he said.

Other business

■ The board approved updates to the restrictive building covenants in the village’s industrial park, but only after one section was amended to make it clear that landowners are not unreasonably restricted in what they can build on their properties. Englebretson pointed out a provision specifying a nine-to-one land-to-building density ratio, which would mean that a 45,000 square-foot lot would be limited to a building no larger than 5,000 square feet.

Trustee Belter said the provision was meant to have the opposite effect, so that a 45,000 square foot parcel would need to have a building that’s “at least” 5,000 square feet.

“We don’t want to have people who have unused property out there,” he said.

Belter said many of the provisions in the covenants have been required in the past, but the village needed to put them in writing.

“Right now, we have a sale that needs to proceed, and the covenants are holding it up,” he said.

■ The board approved new snow removal and road salting agreements with the Stratford Area Fire Department and the property at 212801 STH 97, as recommended by the public works committee.

■ The board approved a $40,000 pay request from Melvin Companies for work it has done through Sept. 6 on Monarch Street and Jasper and Allington Avenues. Project engineer Dan Knoeck said the project is nearly complete and the board should expect one last pay request from Melvin for money being retained until completion is verified. In response to questions raised by the board, Knoeck said he would check on areas of cracked concrete.

■ DPW Scott Dennee said there was a sewer backup at a resident’s house on STH 97 after a fuse blew at a lift station, and a claim has been submitted to the village’s insurance company, but he does not believe the village did anything negligent.

■ The board accepted the resignation of Claire Schroeder, whose last day as administrative assistant was Aug. 23.

■ The board renewed the village’s health insurance plan through United Health Care, with a 10 percent rate increase taking effect on Oct. 1. Trustees also voted to continue the village’s long-term disability insurance with The Hartford, with the rates staying the same until 2027.

■ The board met in closed session to “discuss the funding of public utilities,” but no action was taken in open session.

In other news, the Joint Review Board for Stratford’s Tax Incremental District 2 met on Monday and approved an updated project plan, which includes an estimated $2.5 million for street and utility improvements and $1.5 million for development incentives/reimbursements.