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Home My WebLink AboutMN-CAC-2012-11-05City of Ithaca Conservation Advisory Council November 5th, 2012 Meeting Minutes Present: Michael Culotta, Chair; Rima Shamieh, C.J. Randall, Tom Shelley, Jesse Hill, Yash Gharat, Emily Hamilton, Eva Birk (note taker for the meeting) Absent: Joanna Nadeau, Donna Fleming, Common Council liaison Guests: Austin Bentley (Tompkins Cortland Community College) Meeting was brought to order at 7:40 pm. AGENDA: I.Approval of October Minutes II.Hector Street Project III.Maguire FIAT Building Expansion IV.Debrief from former Mayor Carolyn Peterson meeting V.EMC, UNA Designation VI.CAC Roster/Nominations I. Approval of October Minutes: Yash drafted last month’s minutes. Even though there was not a quorum, Culotta believes the group may still accept and submit the minutes. Vote to approve and submit October minutes: Seven votes to approve, one abstention, none against. II. Hector Street Project (Subdivision Approval) – Tax Parcel #19- 4-7.2 The Tompkins County Planning Department recently gave this project a negative declaration, asking for modification of the proposal. Specific requests include: 1) reconfiguring lot lines to include a 50 foot stream buffer and 2) accounting for proposed street lines in the West Hill Neighborhood Plan. The Plan calls for the continuation of Campell Avenue. Currently, a residential site is sited in this area. Members agree in general with the County findings, Rima and C.J. point to a need to look at historical road development. Tom suggests that everything may be tied up until the new Comp Plan is released. Recommendation #1: Reconfigure lot lines to account for 50ft intermittent stream buffer. CAC concurs with the County’s recommendation to reconfigure lot lines on this site to allow a 50 foot setback for an intermittent stream currently located in Lot #4. The relatively steep slope of this site highlights the need for proper surface water protection. Recommendation #2: Consider relationship to West Hill Neighborhood Plan. We recommend that the Planning Board review how proposed streets have developed over time in the West Hill area, and make a determination as to the likelihood that the City still plans to continue Campbell Ave through this site. The West Hill Plan was formed in March 1992, so we assume it is up for an update. Until this happens the Board should consider implications for neighborhood connectivity and walkability from allowing development in the path of a potential thru street. III. MAGUIRE FIAT (Building Expansion) – 308 Elmira Road: This space will be used for repairs and sales of FIAT vehicles. Original plan contained no change to the building and allowance for some pervious surface (gravel). The new plan contains additional asphalt with modifications to a garage/showroom complex (includes 6 service bays). Michael and Jesse voice concern surrounding the cumulative impact of impervious cover in the floodplain. In the past CAC has asked for impervious cover to be reduced and/or storm water to be filtered onsite. What are the stormwater management requirements for this parcel? Why is the CAC not able to view a copy of the SWQPP? Recommendation #3: Reduce impervious surface onsite. We recognize that this site is fairly typical of development in this area of town. However, due to cumulative impacts of stormwater pollution in the floodplain that are not being addressed at larger level, we strongly recommend the addition of more pervious surface at this site. This area of town experiences repeated flooding during small storm events. Some effort must be made to address cumulative effects of small-lot development, both in terms of water quantity and quality. The Board should consider specific mitigation measures for this site such as: ·Utilizing pervious materials (gravel parking). ·Installing vegetated swales adjacent to Route 13 (between sidewalk and parking lot). ·Re-grading impervious surface such that overflow from service bays exits into catch basin (storm sewer) rather than IV. Debrief from former mayor Carolyn Peterson meeting: Emily and Michael met with former Mayor Carolyn Peterson to talk about improving CAC. Peterson used to be on CAC in 80’s. During this time CAC gave reports to common council each month. Rima mentions that today, CAC mostly focuses on site plan review. In 2011 we reviewed a large number of site plans (approximately 111 over the course of the year). Discussion followed concerning whether or not this is the best use of the Council’s time. C.J. – We should push for a Green Building Code. In Carolyn’s time green fleet and green purchasing passed, but nothing has happened with green building code. Yash says that Katy Stoner at (Park Foundation?) is interested as well. Emily – Other than green building, the Peterson wants CAC to focus on sustainability and energy issues in the context of cross-committee collaboration. There are already 3 committees in Ithaca (CAC, PARKS, NAC), why are we always working separately? She also brought up the importance of filing an annual report. EMC receives dedicated staff support, which seems to help tremendously. Although, staff support has been helpful recently, CAC could still use a presence at meetings. (If not dedicated staff then some other arrangement). Suggestion to meet with members of the planning board to discuss making CAC more effective. Jesse - clear recommendations and strong agenda are important elements of being effective as a committee. Emily - Peterson suggests that CAC undertake a SWOT analysis. Action Item #1: Undertake SWOT analysis regarding CAC structure and future planning. Responsible: Rima. V. EMC, UNA Designation: Two new areas are up for UNA designation, plus boundary revisions for UNAs (about 40 of them). Concern over Six Mile Creek Boundary revision: the boundaries have changed, unclear at this point whether they got bigger or smaller. Emily recommends that CAC look into it. What can the CAC committee do before EMC meeting on Thursday? Note: At one time CAC was interested in prioritizing the importance of different UNAs, presenting them as “hot spots”, etc. UNA designation does not mean that the area is open to the public, but it does mean these areas are given more public attention. Natural areas can provide continuity, habitat protection over time, Michael suggests that CAC could use UNAs to coordinate with Finger Lakes Land Trust. Action Item #2: Reach out to Anna to include her thoughts in our future comments on the Six Mile Creek boundary. Responsible: Emily. VI. CAC Roster/Nominations: Joanna, Yash, Emily might be leaving. Need to take this into account and perhaps ask for additional placements before July. Motion to nominate new Chair and Vice Chair: All in favor, none opposed. Motion to hold elections at present meeting and start new terms in January: All in favor, none opposed. Nominations: Chair: Rima Shamieh, unopposed Vice Chair: Jesse Hill, unopposed Election Results: Chair: Rima Shamieh Vice Chair: Jesse Hill Meeting adjourned at 9:05 pm. *Send Eva any edits by Saturday, November 17th to get comments in by Monday the 19th.