HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CAC-2011-01-10Conservation Advisory Council
Meeting Minutes — 01 /10/11
Attending: Michael Culotta, Nathan Brenner, Tom Shelly, Anna Stalter, Rima Shamieh
Excused: Govind Acharya, Laura Martin Absent: Meghan Jacquet
Guest: Roxy Johnston, City of Ithaca, Water Plant Coordinator
Included in these minutes are review comments on the following projects:
§ Ithaca College Boathouse, 692 Third Street Extension
§ Rear Yard Parking Area, 139 Hudson Street
§ Collegetown Terrace Apartments, East State Street
§ University Avenue Reconstruction, University Avenue on Cornell University's
Campus
• Welcome & Introduction of New CAC member, Rima
Shamieh, Karimeh. sham ieh(a)gmail.com
Ithaca College Boathouse, 692 Third Street Extension
• What is the schedule for public review and comment on this project? Will
there be additional info available at that time, like a SWPPP?
• Will CAC receive a copy of SWPPP before Planning Board project review
and approval? Will CAC have the ability to comment on SWPPP before reviewed
and approved by the planning board?
• Will there be a chance for public comment on DEC permit request?
• What is the review schedule and what are the agencies involved in review for
the permitting of the full project? Is the bank stabilization to be reviewed by NYS
DEC, US Army Corps of Engineers segmented from the full project?
• Has this development been incorporated into the Plans for dredging the
Cayuga Inlet?
• What is the thinking on putting in so many parking spaces? If only 16 are
required, why 41 spots?
• Would it be a trailhead for CWT?
• A lot of ancillary cars using it will end up using it. (Farmers Market)
• Reference to Landscape plan (L -401): What is compensating for the loss of
existing mature willows. (Does this action get listed in a DEC environmental
news bulletins — ENB) . Can the "rain garden" be expanded to cover the entire
parking lot?
• Why have you selected the London planetree (Plantanus acerifolia) over our
native sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)?
• Comments on Part II of the LEAF
• The response to question 1 ... Does not seem to consider impacts to:
■water table, run -off into designated floodway.
• What is the criterion for removal of "unhealthy" trees. As an example,
at the Ithaca Farmer's Market, could the trees that extend out over the
water there (kid's play on them) be considered unhealthy?
o How is changing the parking area from 15 pervious spaces to 41
impervious parking spaces judged to be a small- moderate impact to
Cayuga Inlet? If there were a material change in the number of parking
spaces, how would impact NOT be reduced? So the question about
whether impact could be reduced would be answered "Yes ")
o Question 6: By filling the area with 800 cu.yds of fill to raise the
parking area above the floodplain increasing we are decreasing the
carrying capacity of the flood plain.
o Question 17: The answer to question 17 is inconsistent with the
"small- moderate impact" indicated on the top of page 8. Will the proposed
action affect public health and safety? What hazardous wastes will be
handled and how will they be disposed?
Action Step: Nathan will contact Lisa Nicholas, ask her what bodies of water are
protected under the ECL (under article 15 or 24)?
Rear Yard Parking Area, 139 Hudson Street
• Why are they building out eight (8) parking spaces if six (6) are required?
Action Step: Rima to complete a site visit within the week.
Action Step: Nathan will call Lisa Nicholas, ask her where the 90% figure comes in for
the consultant's calculation for this project.
Collegetown Terrace Apartments, East State Street
CAC request notice of upcoming site visits along with Planning and Development Board.
Action Step: Nathan will contact Kim Michaels and the Planning Board to express
interest and to schedule visit.
Action Step: Nathan will send a link for Collegetown Terrace FEIS in an e -mail to Rima.
University Avenue Reconstruction, University Avenue on Cornell University's
Campus
• CAC is interested in the proceedings of this project's bank stabilization since
Fall Creek is a Unique Natural Area and has a special protections as a Wild and
Scenic River.
• DEC's involvement would indicate that there is a higher level of review for
the work that's being envisioned.
• How does this project affect or become impacted by the construction of
Milstein Hall and the stormwater plans which are presumed to have been revised
solely for the construction of the Hall without the parking lot and its sediment
filter /trap that was envisioned in the original project?
Action step: Thomas Shelley will contact Steve Beyers (CU Environmental Officer)
Broader discussion of Watershed Management Practices
Comments from Roxy on planning for and improving Management Practices in
Significant Waterbodies and Conservation - ranked watersheds.
Protection from cumulative impacts is not present in any legal way.
For instance: if each 1 acre development meets the limits of their allowance, there is no
way to limit the allowance for a combined region. We should work with the Town
because our water sources are tied together
Action Step: Nathan will call Lisa Nicholas and inquire about how cumulative impacts of
development along the Fall Creek UNA and the Cayuga Inlet are considered?
MEETING ADJOURNED 9PM
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