OSAC meetings are held monthly the first Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at the Town House, 11 Main Street, South Salem, NY. For exact dates consult the calendar or call the Town Clerk's Office at 763-3511.

Open Space Advisory Committee
Mission Statement and Guidelines

1. AUTHORIZATION: The Town of Lewisboro hereby creates a committee hereinafter known as the Town of Lewisboro Open Space Advisory Committee (the "Committee.")
2. MEMBERSHIP: Said Committee shall consist of nine members appointed by the Town Board. In making such appointments, the Town Board shall endeavor to represent, to the extent possible, a cross-section of the hamlets which comprise the Town of Lewisboro. Said members shall serve without compensation and may from time to time be encouraged to complete training and continuing education programs which properly further the function of this Committee. No person who is a member of the Town Board shall be eligible for membership on the Committee.
3. TERMS OF MEMBERS FIRST APPOINTED: The terms of members of the Committee first appointed shall be for terms so fixed that the terms of five members shall expire at the end of the first calendar year in which said members were initially appointed. The terms of the remaining four members shall expire at the end of the second calendar year in which said members were initially appointed. At the expiration of the term of each member first appointed, his or her successor shall be appointed or such member shall be reappointed for a term of two years.
4. CHAIRPERSON DUTIES: The Chairperson shall be appointed by the Town Board. All meetings of the Committee shall be held at the call of the chairperson and at such other times as the committee may determine. Such chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Committee unless absent, in which event the Committee shall choose a member to preside at said meeting.
5. REMOVAL OF MEMBERS: The Town Board shall have the power to remove any member of the Committee for cause. Any Committee member may be removed for non-compliance with minimum requirements relating to meeting attendance and training as established by the Town Board.
6. VACANCY IN OFFICE: If a vacancy shall occur otherwise than by expiration of term, the Town Board shall appoint a new member to serve out the unexpired term.
7. MEETINGS: Meetings shall be conducted on a regular basis, open to the public, and conducted within a Town facility. Notice of the time, place and location of such meetings shall be duly published in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. A quorum of five members shall be necessary to transact business and a vote of five members of the Committee is required for the recommendation to the Town Board of a particular parcel for possible action. Minutes of the meetings shall be kept and maintained by the Committee.
8. PURPOSE: The purpose of the Open Space Advisory Committee is to make recommendations to the Town Board regarding opportunities to preserve open space. Additionally, the Committee may research inter-municipal efforts to preserve open space and recommend participation by the Town where deemed appropriate. The properties considered to serve this public purpose must be consistent with the goals of the Master Plan, provide a positive environmental purpose, be selected according to specific criteria to be developed by the Committee, and be referred to the Town Board for final approval.
9. FUNCTION:

1. The Committee shall first establish the specific criteria for evaluation of parcels taking into consideration such factors as: the Master Plan for the Town; protection of surface waters and aquifers; wetlands and buffers; steep slopes; key roads and vistas; recreation potential; unusual qualities, including vistas and viewshed; historic and/or cultural significance; unique or prominent natural features; location; and any such other factors that the Committee deems relevant.
2. The Committee shall keep abreast of current and potential market opportunities and provide a preliminary market-value analysis both as developed and undeveloped land. This includes a realistic assessment of the potential for development in light of planning, zoning and environmental controls.
3. The Committee shall investigate the means of obtaining the parcels and/or development rights as well as research collaborative efforts of financing, through private donations, public grants on state, county and local levels, and Town participation. Some examples of this are gifts, easements, purchase/grant combinations, or outright purchases using a bond or other creative financing to achieve the intended result
4. The Committee shall present recommendations to the Town Board for approval of specific action and/or alternatives based on its factual assessment of the opportunities, methods available, and necessity for intervention by the Town.

Lewisboro's Greenway Inventory