HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-NAC-2011-02-14City of Ithaca
Natural Areas Commission
Draft Minutes
Monday, February 14, 2011, 5:30- 7:OOpm, City Hall, 108 East Green St, 2nd Floor Conference Room
In attendance
Members: Joe McMahon (Acting Chair), Jon Meigs, Ron Herring, Todd Miner, Gerry Cox, Anna Stalter,
Sarah Steuteville (notetaker)
Other: Dan Hoffman (City Attorney) Wade Wykstra (BPW liason)
Absent
Members: Robert Wesley
Minutes from January Meeting were unanimously approved with minor changes.
BRIEF REPORTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dan Hoffman reported that the Board of Zoning Appeals had approved a height variance for the
Collegetown Terrace development. Later this month, the Planning Board will consider preliminary
approval of the site plan for the entire project. At the March meeting, the Planning Board will consider final
approval of Phase I of the project. Concerns include light leakage, especially from the structured parking
and whether the screen of evergreens will stay in place along the gorge. Joe will send comments to the
Planning Board.
LETTER OF ENDORSEMENT FOR NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY
The Native Plant Society is seeking not - for - profit status and needs letters of support from organizations
familiar with the work they do. It was unanimously agreed that the NAC will send a letter endorsing the
work of the Native Plant Society. Anna will prepare the letter and send it around for review before
submitting it.
ITHACA FALLS UPDATE
Nels Bohn submitted a memo regarding the Ithaca Falls Overlook Project. The city is in the process of
hiring an environmental consultant to investigate the site and devise strategies for remediating site
contamination. Barton and Loguidice has been selected to do the investigation. The funds for this stage of
the clean up come from a $700,200 NYS Environmental Restoration Program grant and $77,800 from
Travis and Travis Development, LLC, the future developer of the site. Todd mentioned that there is a new
Tompkins Co. planner, Fred Bonn, whose focus is tourism who may be of assistance with planning the
future of the cleaned up Ithaca Falls Natural Area.
STRATEGIES FOR CAMPERS IN NATURAL AREAS
Joe brought up the issue of campers in Natural Areas. While camping is illegal in the Natural Areas, it
happens. Joe has monitored one site this winter that may be on the natural area or may be on a property
adjacent. In addition to a tent, some large furniture has been brought in. It would take quite an effort to
remove the items on the site. Dan said that in the past, during ranger season, such sites were posted with
signs saying that they were illegal and would be removed after a certain number of days. On many
occasions the sites were removed by the campers themselves. On other occasions, the rangers saw to
the removal of the items at the camping site. Sometimes the problem is homelessness. There is also an
element of not wanting to follow rules and norms of society, which makes it hard to provide a suitable
alternative. If the problem is removed from one area, it is likely that it will just move to a different location.
The law is clear, but enforcement of the law and eradication of camping sites is not so easy.
PRIORITIES FOR 2011
Priorities for 2011 include the following, not in any particular order:
Keeping other boards informed of NAC guidelines
Raising visibility of NAC
Keeping Natural Areas natural (invasive removal, erosion, etc.)
Fall Creek Corridor
Six Mile water project
Public education walks and talks
Trail maintenance
Attendence with expertise