HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-01-12 CAC MinutesTown of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 1 of 9
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council (CAC)
Minutes of Video Conference (Zoom) Meeting on
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Danby, New York
Council Members present: Clare Fewtrell (chair), Joel Gagnon, George
Adams, Jonathan Zisk, Brittany Lagaly, Don Schaufler, Margaret Corbit,
Mary Woodsen
Council Members absent: none
Others present: Elizabeth Keokosky (secretary), Ronda Roaring (Danby
resident), David West (new town planner), Jon Jensen (Danby resident
interested in perhaps joining CAC)
Zoom Meeting was officially called to order at 7:05.
Deletions or Additions to Agenda: none
Privilege of the Floor (PoF)
Fewtrell asked CAC members if they are alright with people attending
speaking throughout meeting if they stick with a 3 minute limit? They were.
Approval Minutes MOTION for December 8, 2020
Gagnon moved to approve
Fewtrell seconded
Unanimous approval
REPORTS AND UPDATES
1) Welcome to new and returning members
Margaret Corbit, who has just joined the CAC was welcomed, and
introductions were given by other members and residents attending
the meeting. Jon Jensen introduced himself as resident of Danby for
15 years living on Steam Mill Rd.
2) Annual Report for 2020 – Fewtrell
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 2 of 9
Fewtrell called members’ attention to the first draft of the 2020 Annual
Report that she had sent earlier that day by email. She asked them
to read it over the next week, and send her any comments. She
asked if everyone was OK with putting off the discussion until the
February meeting. (They were.) After approval by the CAC, the
report would be forwarded to the Town Board for their information,
and to the DEC (as required by statute).
3) What do we want to achieve in 2021?
• Fewtrell started off the discussion by stating that her priorities
were to try to keep meetings to 1-1½ hours and keeping
focused.
• She encouraged members to be more involved and for all
(herself included) to work on items during the month and not on
the last day before the meeting.
• Gagnon said that he wanted to work harder on soliciting
easement donations
o Fewtrell said that everyone should come up with a list of
potential candidates
o Some CAC members are interested in donating
easements
o It was agreed that the search should be more focused
and not so scatter-shot
o Schaufler and Woodsen said that the Covid pandemic
had made it a tough time to initiate easement discussions
• Gagnon is interested in creating open space priority areas to
target properties we think most important
o Gagnon suggested starting with properties within UNAs
and properties around them that might be particularly at
risk (Fewtrell asked about extra copies of the Natural
Resources Inventory for new members – where
information on UNAs is mapped)
o PoF: Roaring offered to generate lists of properties in and
adjacent to UNAs
• Corbit asked if there had been any town discussion on how to
introduce Danby residents to easements
o Fewtrell suggested reading the documents available on
the CAC website
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 3 of 9
o PoF: Roaring repeated a previous suggestion of having a
live meeting with panelists from the Finger Lakes Land
Trust, Danby Easements, etc., with manned tables, to
answer questions
o PoF: Jensen was enthusiastic about holding a Zoom
session to answer questions
o Corbit agreed and said that the easement template is
legalese and raised questions
• Corbit asked about the status of the easement tax incentive
proposed by the Planning Group (which also included
alternative time frame easements that are not in perpetuity)
o Gagnon responded that this bill needs to get on the state
legislative calendar for this year
o once approved, it needs a local Danby law to implement it
o the time frame is unclear – it could be over a year or more
• Adams volunteered to submit names of people who might be
interested in easements. He suggested having a person or
subcommittee that would be responsible for keeping track of
people that come on and off the CAC’s radar. Fewtrell
suggested that members should think about this and decide
who might be a good person to accomplish this.
• Zisk liked the idea of an outreach Zoom presentation to explain
what a conservation easement is and give residents an
informational start. PoF: Jensen agreed and suggested a
collective group of neighbors if no one person had enough
property. Adams said that he and his neighbors had pooled
property behind their houses to make paths, but he thought
approaching and coordinating between 5 different land owners
might be daunting. He volunteered to be a tracker of interested
people who were at different stages of interest. Fewtrell said
she would send everyone the list of potential easement donors
that she had compiled last year. Gagnon agreed that getting an
easement often takes years, so finding ways to promote
continuity among members was important. Also institutional
memory provided by a person or committee would be valuable
for keeping track of potential easement holders and where they
were in their decision-making.
• Fewtrell noted that we could use the list to start prioritizing.
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 4 of 9
• Zisk was interested in the mission statement for the CAC. He
mentioned that he wasn’t completely sure what our current
mission statement was. Gagnon said that was essentially in
the enabling resolution , suggested looking at it and bringing
back thoughts for the meeting next month. (See Apendix
following these minutes for a list of CAC “tasks” in the Enabling
Legislation)
• Adams suggested that the logging legislation he is working on
could create a consulting responsibility that could be part of our
job.
4) Defining a Restricted Forestry Zone for Easements – Fewtrell
Fewtrell had put together a definition based on Sherman’s first draft
that included suggestions from her and Gagnon.
The new zone preface had been shortened to state that:
“The purpose of the Restricted Forest Use Zone is to limit
activities to those that have a minimal impact on the forest.”
“Allowed” examples were kept and used to further illustrate the intent
of the zone. The “not allowed” examples were removed to avoid
confusion over any items that might have been left out. The one
remaining item on the “not allowed” list (commercial timber harvests)
was instead moved to the “allowed” section as a negative in the
example describing the types of logging allowed. Since only
examples of allowable activities were now shown, the words “(not an
exclusive list)” could also be deleted. Members were pleased with
the result.
Schaufler wondered about riding an ATV on access trails. Gagnon
said that the general language of the existing easement template
already covered this situation; ATVs can be used for utility, not for
recreation. Schaufler also pointed out that “non-forest timber
products” should be “non-timber forest products”.
The next step to including the zone as part of the existing easement
template is approval of the wording by the town lawyer. Gagnon
noted that this zone defined a forestry objective of maintaining old
trees. Corbit said that she thought this would be very attractive to a
lot of people. There was general agreement that the action of
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 5 of 9
protecting the forest from disruption would also improve bird and
animal habitat.
Adams wondered if there was a way to determine if there was more
interest in easements because of this additional zone. He concluded
that it has to be anecdotal. Fewtrell said at least 5 people currently
interested in easements wanted a better way to protect their woods.
PoF: Keokosky asked whether approval of this zone warranted an
article in the DAN and Fewtrell said she would write one.
5) Report on progress of Logging Ordinance – Adams and
Schaufler
Adams continued on-going discussions of the problems he was
encountering in editing and rewriting the old draft ordinance. His
current problem was inconsistent structure of sections and
subsections, which he has fixed. He wants to send the current
version of the document to members with markup showing so they
can trace the logic of changes. Members were wary of the format of
the draft and whether it would be possible to share suggestions for
modifications. Adams apologized for taking so long and Zisk
suggested just having an email exchange for the next couple of
weeks. Adams elaborated on his other ideas for additional
documents and the role of the CAC.
Fewtrell suggested that the group should just take a look at
Adams’draft. Zisk volunteered to help Adams and Schaufler, if they
needed another partner. His offer was accepted by Adams. Fewtrell
questioned the need to formulate a detailed ordinance, and wondered
if it should just be simplified. Basically the group just needed
something to read and make comments on to move the process
forward, so Adams agreed to send his working draft to everyone
immediately after the meeting.
6) Easement Updates - Fewtrell
There are currently two potential easement holders - Andi Gladstone
for one, and Dan Hoffman and Micaela and Mark Karlsen for the
other. Both are interested in the new Forestry Zone, so should be
closer to coming to conclusion. Corbit wanted to know, for the
record, whether, if the proposed easement tax incentives go through,
they are retroactive to current easement holders. The answer is Yes.
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 6 of 9
The individuals mentioned above are planning easements in
perpetuity so are not dependent on approval of the short-term
easements that the Planning Group has also proposed.
7) Easement Signs – George Adams
Adams reported that Camille is not interested in changing the picture
in her sign from shading to black and white graphics, and Adams
doesn’t have much new information. He called on Zisk who said
picture could be changed digitally to help him do it.
Fewtrell brought up the option of using Sherman’s original sign, which
she liked, and Adams said he could get a quote on both. The group
agreed that they liked both signs so Sherman’s sign might be a good
alternative.
8) Report from the Town Board on the Proposed Management
Plans for Town Properties on Deputron Hollow Road and Sylvan
Lane – Gagnon
The management plans are to be presented at a Public Hearing on
February 17 at the beginning of the Town Board meeting, but the
board hasn’t had time to discuss them yet.
Planning group – Gagnon reported that the planner had presented a
list of options for working with open space (see minutes for the
Planning Group). He said they were gearing up again for sub-
committees to meet. Fewtrell asked if all members of the CAC could
receive an invitation to join the Conservation working group. Gagon
thought this was a good idea.
Fewtrell reminded members to read and provide comments on the
annual report and asked the secretary to send the minutes of the
meeting as soon as possible after the meeting. Gagnon asked
about Jon Jensen as a possible CAC member. The group was in
favor and Fewtrell said that she would invite him.
Fewtrell asked Secretary to add the latest members and David West
(planner) to the phone list. Legaly mentioned internet problems with
receiving email that prevent her from using Danby email.
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 7 of 9
There was no Executive session
Next Meeting through Zoom is on February 9th at 7p.m.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m.
_____________________________________________
Submitted by Elizabeth Keokosky (Secretary)
APPENDIX
Town of Danby, NY Resolution No. 82 of 2010 AUTHORIZING
CREATION OF A CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL Adopted 14-
Jun-2010
Section I Purpose and Authority
It shall advise in the development, management and protection of the
Town's natural resources. The Council shall direct itself toward
accomplishing the following tasks:
a) conducting researches into the land area of the Town of Danby;
b) seeking to coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for
similar purposes and to cooperate with other official municipal bodies
active in the area of community planning for the Town;
c) advertising, preparing, printing, and distributing publications
(including, but not limited to, books, maps, charts, plans, pamphlets,
and digital materials) that it deems necessary for the accomplishment
of its goals;
d) keeping a required inventory and map, as defined in section 239 -y of
the General Municipal Law, of all open areas within the Town with the
plan of obtaining information pertinent to proper utilization of such
open lands, including lands owned by the state, any other
municipality within the state, or by the Town of Danby itself;
e) keeping a required inventory and map of all open marsh lands,
swamps, and all other wet lands in a like manner, and
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 8 of 9
recommending, when it deems it appropriate, to the Town Board a
program for ecologically suitable utilization of all such areas;
f) keeping required accurate records of its meetings and actions and
filing a required annual report with the Town Board on or before the
thirty-first day of December of each and every year [Once approved
by the Town Board, a copy is required to be forwarded to the NY
State Commissioner of Environmental Conservation].
In addition, authorization is explicitly given by this resolution for the
Council to:
g) focus its preservation efforts on land it deems to be at risk of
development located in areas zoned for low density or conservation;
h) develop a list of scenic or historic sites to protect as opportunities
allow;
i) lobby on issues relating to the council's duties and goals;
j) actively support open space protection by facilitating the transfer of
land from sellers to buyers sympathetic to open space preservation;
k) accept by gift, grant, bequest, or otherwise, money or other personal
property in the name of the Town of Danby, for its use in furtherance
of the objectives of this resolution;
l) propose, subject to Town Board action, the acceptance by gift,
conditional or unconditional, grant, devise or otherwise, the fee or any
lesser interest, development right, easement, covenant or other
contractual right, including conveyance with limitations or reversions,
land, in furtherance of natural resource protection within the Town of
Danby;
m) recommend acquisition by the Town Board by purchase in fee or any
lesser interest, development right, easement, covenant or other
contractual right, including conveyance with limitations or reversions,
by negotiation or condemnation, such real or personal property as
may be needed in furtherance of the purposes of the Council;
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 9 of 9
n) pursuant to (l) and (m), administer a conservation easement program
on behalf of the Town, to include the crafting, acquisition, and
monitoring of easements, both purchased and donated, with the
acquisition being subject to Town Board approval of each proposed
easement.
o) develop and implement management plans for Town-owned
conservation land. At a minimum, the plan for each parcel or group of
contiguous parcels shall identify and set forth the features of the
property to be preserved and/or enhanced, the features that can be
compatibly exploited for public benefit, and the actions needed or
desired in order to do so, complete with a schedule of steps to be
taken. For conservation properties owned by the Town at the time of
creation of the Council, the Council shall create management plans
within three years. For newly-acquired properties, the Council shall
create management plans within two years. For each management
unit, an opportunity for public comment shall precede adoption of the
unit’s management plan by the Town Board, with adoption required
before implementation by the CAC. The management plans for every
management unit, once adopted by the Town Board, shall be
reviewed by the council every five years. Progress, via the specified
implementation steps, toward the adopted goals, shall be carefully
scrutinized. The public, particularly the neighbors of the management
unit, should be encouraged to participate in the review. The Council
may propose changes to a management plan, subsequent to its
periodic review; these changes must be approved by the Town Board
before the Council can implement them.
p) for land acquired by the Town for conservation not protected by
conservation easement at the time of acquisition, prepare an
easement for Town Board review and possible adoption.