HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-11-14 CAC MinutesTown of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 1 of 8
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council (CAC)
Minutes of In-person Meeting in Town Hall and via videoconferencing
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Danby, New York
Council Members present: Margaret Corbit (Meeting chair), Jonathan Zisk
(Zoom), Joel Gagnon, Don Schaufler, Renee Owens, Katharine Hunter (Zoom),
Brittany Stein (formerly Lagaly)
Council Members absent: none
Others present: Elizabeth Keokosky (Secretary), Anne Klingensmith (Danby
resident interested in becoming a CAC member), Ronda Roaring (Danby resident
via Zoom)
Meeting was officially called to order at 7:08
Deletions or Additions to Agenda: Stein suggested adding the topic of creating a
CAC Facebook page, similarly to that of the West Danby Fire and Rescue. Corbit
added it to agenda entry 7: Status of Newsletter/webpage interactions
Privilege of the Floor (PoF): Roaring discussed using a policy of “connectivity,”
in parcel choice that prioritizes contiguous space. Also thought CAC should be
educating people on DEC options to purchase property for easements. Zisk
responding by saying “connectivity” is already a priority for CAC, and educating
people on DEC is not listed as part of our mission. She was asked to send a link
on the DEC process, and what were the advantages of going through DEC. She
said that hunting and fishing were considered recreation by DEC and they were
interested in promoting it.
Klingensmith said that she had decided to join the CAC, which was cheered.
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 2 of 8
Approval of October 11, 2023 minutes
Gagnon moved to approve
Stein seconded
Approved by all present
REPORTS AND UPDATES (from the agenda)
1. Danby local election results and how, if any, ways CAC should respond –
all
Gagnon and Hunter, CAC members, continue as Supervisor and Danby
Town Board member.
2. Status of DEC meeting on Timber Harvesting law – Schaufler subgroup
Zisk is making changes based on DEC comments in his report.
3. Update on Conservation Easement Tax Abatement; Criteria for
acceptance – Gagnon
Conservation Easement tax abatement for new easements was announced
in Danby newsletter CAC report. But CAC is continuing to explore ways that
existing easement properties could be included. Keokosky suggested
contacting our NY State Assembly member, Anna Kelles. Gagnon will talk to
town lawyer, Guy Krogh. Zisk asked about applying for state legislation
that amends law to include existing easement owners.
It was agreed that this kind of exploration of change in intent and wording
should come through a request by town board.
4. Easement monitoring: Recruiting easement monitors and developing a
support packet; getting a coordinator - Corbit
Corbit announced that she felt that there has been a breakthrough on
easement monitoring. In the last several days, she, Gagnon, and Owens
have been looking at the different processes involved in easements and
monitoring, and untangling confusions in language, resulting mainly from
an unstandardized process with different people doing the easement
monitoring, new sets of members with varying experience, and
decentralized easement document storage (mainly because of shifting
Danby website systems and work space).
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 3 of 8
Basic steps for easement are
1. Reach out to owner
2. Walk land and do baseline survey document. (a baseline is not the
easement but only one of the documents in easement packet)
3. Development of whole easement (including Schedules A, B, C)
4. Approval of all parties
(Owens pointed out that baseline also has a legal meaning.)
Gagnon would like to digitally re-organize easement storage:
Each easement becomes a Folder that holds all resources. The monitoring
coordinator would need to do that job. (See Appendix B for a draft)
Annual monitoring document is for CAC members but landowners should also
get a copy.
Owens said that monitoring document should be systematic and note the
time, hour, and date for required information.
Gagnon suggested secretary (Keokosky) send all landowners an announcement
letter that informs them of monitoring that will occur. She affirmed that this
was OK. Content and form are still being decided. (See Appendix A for a draft).
Letter wording needs to accommodate easements that have changed hands (3
so far), and so should to be somewhat explanatory. Gagnon suggested asking
the landowner if he/she would like to help. They can report significant
changes. Katharine noted that letters she receives from Delaware Highlands
Conservancy (for her family easement) uses a link to refer owner to surveying
type questions.
( https://delawarehighlands.org/landowner/caring-for-your-land/monitoring-
form/ )
In the interest of simplification of baseline documentation, Owens thinks CAC
should standardize on a GIS program to mark boundaries and noteworthy
features that is simple and inexpensive. She asked about GIS tracking programs
that are user friendly – Zisk has been using
Alltrails (https://www.alltrails.com/mobile )
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 4 of 8
or Huntstand (https://www.huntstand.com/huntstand-
app/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvND5kI7vggMVHmBHAR3rpAKpEAA
YASAAEgLidfD_BwE ).
Huntstand has the advantage of saving GIS data as a pdf file as a standardized
output format. David West, former planner, used Gaia GPS
(https://www.gaiagps.com/ ) from his iPhone. This leaves a hodgepodge of
programs used among easement negotiators/monitors.
Corbit asked “Are we committed to annual monitoring? Discussion followed
on problems, which are seen as a lack of a coordinator, communication,
reluctance to go through woods because of ticks, hunting season, among other
things. So, the questions remained: Does monitoring need additional
volunteers? Does it have to be annual?
Owens emphasized that if we are using volunteers, we need one place where
everything is spelled out that they need to know. She volunteered to help
put it together. Zisk noted that the presentation CAC makes to property
owners should be short and sweet. He suggested that CAC members (with
more knowledge) should do monitoring, not volunteers. Gagnon said
volunteers might have more longevity than some CAC members. Hunter asked
that, in the future, could there be preliminary (online or paper) report forms
for monitor to use (like the census)
Discussion ended with Owens taking ownership of organizing the monitoring
oversight process. And indirect compliments were made to former CAC chair,
Clare Fewtrell, for her work in “Clarifying” the process. We miss her
uncontestable energy to “crack the whip” by being her own best example.
5. Updates on on-going easements – from leads on each easement
Brian Caldwell and wife, Twinkle Griggs – Corbit doing baseline – said it was a
lovely piece of property.
Ruth Sherman – Stein will be going to walk land after Nov 16th
Ben Altman – Zisk has an appointment with Ben when he gets back from
Maine
Andi Gladstone -Zisk working on a schedule A and Schedule C with Andi
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 5 of 8
Butje – Gagnon asked Greg for update. He said they were reluctant to commit
to donating an easement before they know if the property will be subdivided.
Joel will ask Greg to let them know that future subdivision can be written into
an easement as a reserved right.
6. Report on status of checklist to trigger CAC involvement in town
planning/land use discussions - Zisk
Gagnon noted that the Planning Board doesn’t do development, but
subdivisions and site plan approvals.
Zisk explained that the checklist would be used if a change in the human
footprint involved a potentially serious impact to the environment.
This discussion was prompted by a possibly inappropriate proposed use of land
on the corner of Nelson and Hornbrook roads by Khuba International, an
organization which wants to put a farm in an environmentally vulnerable piece
of property. (steep drop-off- don’t have access from Nelson.
(https://www.khubaintl.org/the-learning-farm)
7. Status of Newsletter/webpage interactions – Owens, Corbit
Newsletter – Gagnon needs to talk to new Town Clerk, elected to begin in
January, so the situation with the newsletter is yet to be addressed.
Website - Corbit noted that Janice Alderman (current town clerk) is doing a
good job on the CAC website, but it needs more photos. Owens brought up
the availability of her own photos or of Bickley hi-res stock photos that are
free. She is putting together an article on over-wintering pollinators.
Facebook page - In response to Owens’ question, Stein responded that the
whole group would have administrative rights to the site, as she visualizes it.
She saw the page as a source of Information on invasive plants and such
related topics. Gagnon asked if this would be a supplement to the Danby
website or would it point people to the Danby website.
Stein said she would take overall administrative responsibility for a CAC
Facebook page.
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 6 of 8
There was no Executive session
Next Meeting is on December 12, 2023 at 7p.m.
Adjournment at 9:05 pm
_____________________________________________
Submitted by Elizabeth Keokosky (Secretary)
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 7 of 8
Appendix A
Example DRAFT Monitoring Letter to Easement Holder in Corbit’s email
Conservation Advisory Council
Town of Danby, New York
OR To: name, etc. including easement info and address of owner
Dear [Easement Holder]:
Thank you for your commitment to conserve the natural resources and
scenic beauty of the Finger Lakes region of Central New York, specifically in
our Town of Danby. [In future years we might want to note the number of
acres in easement? As of the writing of the letter or reference an increase?]
As outlined in the contract you signed with the Town regarding the
Conservation Easement on your property {Tax Lot # and/or address or other
identifying info?], the Town Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) is required
to periodically ensure that the natural values of the land under easement
have not been compromised.
As a first step, we ask you to complete the Conservation Easement
Monitoring form online at: URL. The CAC will review each easement, based
on your report as well as aerial images and other GIS resources available to
the Town.
There are several options for this process.
1) You may confirm that there have been no changes in the physical
landscape of the property or your use of it as outlined in the
easement as the current owner of the property. This is a
convenient way to complete the process.
2) If there have been changes to the property that you would like to
have recorded, for example building enhancements in the
Residential and Active Use Zone, please describe them in the form
and attach digital images. CAC will confirm this information.
3) If there have been major changes that were allowed in the original
easement or that show up in the CAC review, a member of the CAC
will inform you of our plans to walk the property and invite you to
join us.
Words of Thanks…….
CAC
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 8 of 8
Appendix B
Suggested DRAFT digital Folder Organization in Gagnon’s email
Conservation Easement Monitoring
Location Map of Easement Properties
Contact Information for Current Owners of Easement Properties
Notification Letter Template
Easement-Specific Supporting Documentation
Property map showing zones
List of ordinary and special values
Baseline Documentation
Any Special features – retained rights (to subdivide, add dwelling
units, etc.)
Monitoring Report template
Calendar:
Choose Coordinator
Line up Crew for each site visit/monitoring
Schedule site visits and send notification letter (Secretary)
Deadline for completion of monitoring reports (electronic?)
Reports compiled and filed by coordinator
File of Completed Monitoring Reports by Year