HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CAC-2014-06-09City of Ithaca Conservation Advisory Council Minutes
June 9, 2014
7:30 – 9pm, Third Floor Conference Room, City Hall, 108 East Green Street
Present: Tom Shelley, Noah Demarest, Maureen Bolton, George McGonigal, Michael Culotta, Kristine
Shaw, Pamela Markham
Absent: Augusta Christensen, Jesse Hill, C.J.Randall, Matt Yarrow.
Meeting was called to order at 7:36
May minutes: Noted we did not have a quorum to approve minutes.
Privilege of the Floor: Pamela Markham reported on the situation concerning the 500 block of Chestnut
Street. The Cedar Creek development cleared the pre-existing natural area adjacent to the creek and
created an area which is presently being used by individuals to party with alcohol and drugs. INHS
attempted to curtail this use by erecting a cedar fence, and when that was vandalized, planting a hedge of
Barberries (Berberis sp.). The concern is that the seeds from this invasive, which is on do not plant list of
Tompkins County, will be washed into the creek and easily spread. Further, there is no clear visibility so
police cannot patrol without entering the area on foot. Markham contacted Paul Mozerella at the time the
hedge was being planted; however, he was apparently not aware of the ban on Barberry and did not
intervene. Markham reported to CAC in an effort to find a solution. As this action on the part of INHS
occurred after site plan review and development of the project was complete, the City has little power to
intervene. CAC noted this information will inform our future reviews of site plans so that similar
occurrences can be averted. The committee recommended that Markham draft a friendly informative
letter to INHS outlining all the community concerns over this development, and suggest one solution to
the ongoing problem would be to open the area, create a path with lighting which would allow the
neighborhood access to the inlet, create desirable foot traffic and open the visibility in the area so it would
not be attractive to undesirable usage. This letter should be signed by other neighborhood residents and
copies sent to the City Planning Department and the Building Department.
Site Reviews:
305 Taylor – CAC is concerned about the new parcel honoring the stream setback rules and questioned
how the flood control easement would restrict disturbance and activity in that area. Also, we felt that
there should be a clear statement concerning the steep slope at the back of the new parcel. Care should be
taken to leave valuable native vegetation and strict erosion control should be observed during
development. These restrictions should be made clear to any prospective buyer of the new lot (deed
restriction associated with City Flood control easement as well as anti-erosion procedures).
Maguire 358 & 370 Elmira Road – Some committee members noted the fact that all the trees have been
felled on this parcel. It was felt that the FEAF was sketchy and questioned why the EAF mapper seemed
so vague. Much more explanation is needed on this site proposal. There is a lot of new pavement next to
the water, and removing all of the Cottonwoods is a setback to the water control in that spot. Discussion
followed on how effective/ineffective the proposed storm water tax will be on large developers.
Carey Building, 314 – 320 E. State Street – This project is an example of densification which CAC
supports.
323 Taughannock Blvd. – Demorest presented this project and answered questions concerning parking,
NYS Canal Corporation and NYSDEC property on the parcel, and foundation engineering challenges. It
was noted that the design allowed visual access to the water through the center of the structure as well as
a waterside public promenade. Discussion followed on the anticipated future development of this area.
Meeting was adjourned at 9:00