HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-03-09 CAC MinutesTown of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 1 of 7
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council (CAC)
Minutes of Video Conference (Zoom) Meeting on
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Danby, New York
Council Members present: Clare Fewtrell (chair), Joel Gagnon, George
Adams, Jonathan Zisk, Brittany Lagaly, Don Schaufler, Mary Woodsen,
Margaret Corbit
Council Members absent: none
Others present: Elizabeth Keokosky (secretary), Ronda Roaring (Danby
resident), David West (town planner), Katharine Hunter (former CAC
member), Sarah Schnabel (town board member), Annette Feeney (Danby
resident)
Zoom Meeting was officially called to order at 7:04.
Deletions or Additions to Agenda: Make CAC Statement on Moratorium
on Subdivision 1st item on agenda.
Privilege of the Floor (PoF): none
Approval Minutes MOTION for February 9, 2020
Gagnon moved to approve
Fewtrell seconded
Unanimous approval, except for Woodsen and Schaufler who
abstained. Corbit entered Zoom session after vote over.
REPORTS AND UPDATES
1. CAC Support Statement of a Moratorium on Subdivision sent to
Town Board
Fewtrell moved to send (the following statement) to Town
Board
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“The Danby Conservation Advisory Council strongly supports
the enactment of a moratorium on subdivision until the end of
the year. This would allow the Town time to revise zoning and
subdivision laws to better manage development and maintain
the rural character of Danby.”
Gagnon seconded the motion
Unanimous approval
Schaufler asked for the backstory and Gagnon explained how the
complicated Wimsatt subdivision had precipitated the moratorium by
making the town board realize how out of step our zoning and
subdivision regulations were with our vision and comprehensive plan.
Also, the planning process was at a point that required specifics and
things enacted might conflict with rules that were changing.
Adams asked if until the end of the year was enough time? Gagnon
replied that the town board wants a time line to keep to schedule, and
West (town planner) said he thinks it is doable, and was comfortable
with it because the board can also extend time limit if necessary.
Board agreed to open it up to public discussion on March 17. It is not
a moratorium on development, only on subdivision. Zisk also added
that a previous meeting had indicated some flexibility, allowing for
waivers if necessary.
Easement Webinar/Zoom Meeting (13th May) – Fewtrell
Corbit and Woodsen volunteered to produce a short article for Danby
Area Newsletter (DAN) advertising it. The plan is to have a current
easement holder speak (perhaps Curtis or O’Neal), and have Gagnon
explain Danby easements, followed by questions. 30 minutes for
each section.
Keokosky (secretary) was asked to produce a poster and send
around to the group an example of her previous one. Various ways
to get the word out were discussed. Besides using the DAN and Gay
Huddle, the marque at the fire station was suggested, the West
Danby sign, the Danby website, the South Hill-Danby Facebook site.
Adams will check into this. Tompkins County Weekly also has a
calendar.
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 3 of 7
2. Easement Website – Woodsen & Corbit
Fewtrell reminded the group that the easement webpage needs to be
active by May 13th. Corbit and Woodsen are working on it. It is still
just an outline. Corbit had only just sent out the text that they had
drafted so everyone should look at it and provide feedback before the
next meeting. Corbit and Woodsen need to talk to the Town Clerk
who is redesigning the website.
3. Easement Sign – Fewtrell & Adams
A compromise had been reached via email. Camille Doucet’s design
will be used on the easement webpage (since shaded tones are too
expensive to produce as a sign but fine for a .jpg file) and the more
graphic green and white design made by Ruth Sherman will be used
for property signage, if the owners of easement properties are
agreeable.
Some discussion on the specifics of this new sign design, such as
QR code placement on it, and whether a QR code could handle a
change in website address. It was clarified that it could handle a new
address if the old one had a forwarding link.
Corbit moved accepting Sherman’s design for a property
sign with a QR code in the bottom right-hand corner of the
Town of Danby outline.
Zisk seconded the motion
Unanimous approval
Fewtrell will write to easement holders to let them know of this new
option.
4. Logging Ordinance – Adams, Schaufler, and Zisk
Adams began with a quote from Fewtrell, “Decide what we want to
achieve and then decide the best way to do it”. He noted that what
had initiated the on-going discussion of an ordinance was an attempt
to stop people like Santo Oliver from destroying our woods and roads
(referring to the debacle in DePutron Hollow several years ago).
The ordinance would require that any large logging job be reported to
Town Hall with a rough map/description of the area and what is
happening on it. He presented an overview of what he wanted the
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 4 of 7
ordinance to look like in a flowchart-like array of IFs and GO TOs with
a graduated set of requirements. These ranged from a routine job
that would not require Town involvement to a potentially ecologically
damaging scenario that would require approval by the code
enforcement officer and expert oversight, coupled to a penalty for
non-compliance. This prompted Corbit to suggest that Adams write
an overview at the start of his draft ordinance document.
Gagnon commented that the question is how far we go on the
spectrum from easy to difficult – are the heavy duty requirements too
heavy in the most sensitive cases or are they in line with what we
want to accomplish?
Fewtrell commented that George was perhaps putting the cart before
the horse and trying to write a complicated legal document, which left
her completely losing the big picture. She suggested writing a plain
English description, let the group go over this, and then writing the
ordinance to implement this.
Schaufler said looking at the steps is a good idea but he thinks what
the Town is worried about is off-property impacts, such as mud in
streams, problems with roads, and, after that, not so much concern
with what people are doing on their own property. He added, do we
want to tell someone where to put their logging roads? This is a
whole different approach. Zisk agreed, except he would also add
monitoring the effects on very sensitive and fragile habitats, such as
low-lying wetlands which couldn’t handle the silt load. Corbit added
that there is state acknowledgement of such areas. Zisk said you
can’t depend on the DEC to be a policing agency. Cobit noted that
now we are putting a load on the code enforcements officer.
Schaufler compared cutting trees with picking wildflowers protected
by the state. Property owners can still pick such flowers and cut trees
on their own property. Corbit said yes, but the ordinance doesn’t say
you cannot log, it just says if we identify vulnerable areas we want to
talk to you about it. Schaufler said that he was in support of making
the landowner aware, but, after that, if they still insist on going ahead
then he believes they should be able to. He added, inform but do not
prevent, unless there is some kind of compensation. Zisk said that
the one thing critical here is best management practices (BMP).
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 5 of 7
Corbit asked whether there would be an opportunity for a dialog, to
which Gagnon added but with whom? We need to point the
landowner to educational resources. Zisk said the guy who is hired to
do the logging knows what BMPs are.
Fewtrell asked where do we go from here? She commented that
we’ve been discussing this since she has been on CAC. Adams still
needs to talk to the Code Enforcement Officer and Highway
Department. Fewtrell also recommended that all three people of
subcommittee participate to come up with a more finished product.
Secretary Keokosky asked if it might be better to initially start with
something simple (e.g., just requiring a report to the Town Clerk) and
then work on making it more complex after we have collected
information for a while on what is happening in our town. Adams said
yes, but we have to have a way of saying no.
Fewtrell concluded that we also need a webpage for logging (for links
to sources of information such as the NYS Forestry BMP Field Guide
Booklet, which is also available on the web) similar to the one we are
making for easements.
5. Easement Updates – Fewtrell
Andi Gladstone is still interested. Gagnon hadn’t heard from
Hoffman/Karlsen recently. Hoffman/Karlsen and Gagnon had agreed
that doing a planned development zone was the best way to proceed
(because it would enable the 3 dwellings they want without requiring
the property to be subdivided). No other easement updates.
6. Invasive Species Talks – Lagaly
Lagaly wants to present several talks on invasive species, the spotted
lantern fly, which has egg masses hatching in May and April, being
one – to be offered to the general community. The date was settled
for April 22, Thursday, at 7pm. She has also written a short article for
the DAN. She will talk to the Town Clerk about holding a Zoom
session. Katharine Hunter (in the audience) suggested co-
sponsorship by the Community Council to increase participation and
ways to advertise.
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 6 of 7
The other presentation is for the Highway Department on how not to
spread Japanese knotweed. Lagaly was looking for an effective way
of contacting Highway Department and Laura Shawley’s name was
suggested. Lagaly was given her contact information and was
advised to call the highway department to find a best day. Lagaly
comes with expertise and has given the presentation to Highway
Departments before. Since other people might be interested
(including members of this committee) it was suggested that she
might give one for the highway department and one for the general
public.
7. Do we want to join NYSACC (New York State Association of
Conservation Commissions (https://nysacc.org/ )? – Fewtrell
Fewtrell has attended and thought it would be worthwhile and
something we should support. It costs $75 for an organization to join.
Gagnon moved CAC join NYSACC
Corbit seconded it.
Unanimous approval
Fewtrell asked about printing more conservation easement rack
cards. Schaufler suggested that we should get 100 more copies of
the PLM-01 2 sided palm cards (rack cards) Woodsen had made a
while back. Schaufler volunteered to check whether Gnomon Copy
still has the template.
8. Town Board’s response to proposed Management Plans for
Town Properties on Deputron Hollow Road and Sylvan Lane –
Gagnon
The management plans were approved without any of the last minute
changes.
9. Planning Group & Conservation Working Group Report –
Gagnon
The Conservation Working Group reviewed Gagnon’s proposed
Zoning Changes – allowing less density. The Hamlet Committee is
receiving a presentation of Zoning changes there. The moratorium
will be a major driver. Movement forward will lean heavily on Planner
West’s expertise. Proposals from the last three planners will also be
reviewed. Town Board members are committed to being actively
engaged.
Town of Danby Conservation Advisory Council Minutes Page 7 of 7
There was no Executive session
Next Meeting through Zoom is on April 13th at 7p.m.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:57 p.m.
_____________________________________________
Submitted by Elizabeth Keokosky (Secretary)