A Vision for Thompson’s Point:
Interview with Rick Pete
by Nancy Wood,
April 21, 2011, page 5.....

Picture this: golden fields of sunflowers along the road at Thompson’s Point. Or a working farm, with homestead and barnyard – open to visitors to buy fresh produce, eggs and meat. Or a park, with picnic tables, open fields for kite flying and pick up ball, trails through the woods to the beach. Or how about a dog park? Or riding facilities for pony club and gymkhanas?
Not so long ago, the Charlotte Pony Club did use a field at Thompson’s Point as their riding area. And at one time it was a working farm, run by the town to provide food and housing for the poor. Recently the fields have been brush-hogged to keep them open, while the Town considers what they will be used for in the future. The request for proposals (RFP) released by the Selectboard last week seeks ideas from local farmers for agricultural uses (see article page 4).
Rick Pete urged the Selectboard, at the April 11 meeting, to “establish criteria and goals for the property.” He questioned releasing an RFP before having a clear vision for the future of all town-owned land, and how each piece fits the needs of Charlotters.
The Town owns multiple pieces of property, significant among them Thompson’s Point, the Burns property and Barber Hill on Greenbush Road, the Town Beach on Lake Road, the Pound Lot on Mutton Hill, the Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge, Scenic Overlook and Galbraith properties on Route 7 and the old dump property on Plouffe Lane.
In an interview at his home on April 13, Pete said that Thompson’s Point should be considered in the context of all these properties. Which pieces are most suitable for open space? agriculture? recreation? He said the Town Plan should include an inventory of the lands and their resources, set goals, and prioritize spending to reach those goals.
The current Town Plan includes much of this information now. The update process that the Planning Commission is kicking off at the public meeting on Thursday, April 28 (6:30 p.m. at the Senior Center), offers an opportunity for clarification and renewal of the Town’s commitment to planning for the future of these lands.
In the meantime, Pete offered a simple idea for the Thompson’s Point land. He said he thought that each of the leaseholders might be willing to contribute $10 or so toward planting sunflowers in the fields. But if agriculture is the goal for the long-term, the land needs work that will be costly either to a farmer or the Town. There are old fences to be removed, and the drainage installed years ago needs to be replaced. The land is in the Town Conservation District and drains into Lake Champlain, raising issues about buffering of wetlands and restricting fertilizer and pesticide usage. Pete thinks a farmer might be willing to invest in rehabilitating the land if given a long-enough term, low-cost lease.
Pete suggests, “The Demeter (Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge) model could be used elsewhere.” When the Town negotiated terms for the development of the park there was a memorandum of understanding that dealt with many issue for its use, including how to deal with dogs (not allowed) and horses (encouraged). He said there is a need for specifications, such as for setbacks from streams, types of crops and rotation requirements.
As a landscape architect, Rick is no stranger to applying creativity and vision to land planning. He studied for his masters degree at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Design, an environmentally oriented program created by Ian McHarg, internationally known for ecological land planning, especially in South America and Eastern Europe. Pete learned about the importance of sustainability and establishing goals. Also, while at Penn, he studied the work of landscape architect Dan Kiley, and eventually, in 1987, moved to Charlotte to work with him.
After living elsewhere in town, Rick and his wife, Teresa, moved in 2001 to their home on Whalley Road. Rick said he had a “lust for building his own house,” so relocated the existing buildings to another part of their property and created a unique home that combines comfortable amenities and architectural salvage, set into a garden landscape that integrates indoor and outdoor living.
During the summer that the house was being built, the Pete’s lived in a recently bought cottage at Thompson’s Point. As a leaseholder as well as a Charlotte resident, Rick sees from both points of view the conflicts that have come up over public access to the lake and trails at Thompson’s point versus the private rights of the summer residents. He has urged the Selectboard to include the summer residents in any planning for the area.
When Pete served on the board of the Charlotte Land Trust, a map of open land in Charlotte, including lake and creek accesses, was developed. He said this would be useful for land planning at Thompson’s Point. And with emphasis, he said, “The people who live near – neighbors – are best to be involved. The Town needs a vision!”
When asked what his vision might be, Rick suggested that the Essex Farm could be a great model. Described in the book The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food, and Love by Kristin Kimball, Essex Farm is located on 500 acres near Lake Champlain in Essex, New York. Kristin and her husband, Mark, grow food year-round, including meats, dairy, fats, vegetables, grains and flours. They farm with draft horses instead of tractors whenever possible. Their CSA membership has grown to over 100 members at about $3,000 per share per year.
Pete said in order to have a farm at Thompson’s Point, the Town would probably have to provide a homestead and a 99 year lease. But whatever direction is taken, he added, “We need enthusiam for vision.”